North Carolina man arrested following traffic stop

The Toccoa Police Department recently arrested a North Carolina man following a traffic stop.

According to Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize, on April 11, officers with the Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a Chevy Impala for failing to signal as it turned into the Exxon on Big A Road.

Mize says the male passenger was identified as 32-year-old Clinton Hopper, of Franklin, North Carolina.

As Hopper was exiting the vehicle he was observed reaching down and throwing something underneath the vehicle, Hopper also kept reaching into his pocket. Mize says, as Hopper was placed in handcuffs he stated, ‘it was just a bag of weed’ and kept repeating ‘take me to jail.’

Upon further search of the vehicle, a glass smoking pipe and residue was found in the cup holder compartment in the back seat.

Mize says during the search of the vehicle, Hopper was standing in front of the patrol car, officers observed between his feet on the ground a small piece of aluminum foil lying next to a cigarette he had in his hand when exiting the vehicle. After unwrapping the foil, a round pill suspected to be oxycodone was found.

Hopper was advised that he was under arrest for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug related objects. He was then transported to the Stephens County Jail.

Later that day, in an unrelated incident, Mize says officers were dispatched to Toccoa Street in reference to a possible assault call.

The complainant stated his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend had attempted to run him over with his truck.

Mize says the complainant told officers that the ex-boyfriend, identified as 41-year-old Michael Jackson, of Eastanollee, became angry when he was told he could not visit the residence anymore.

Around 10 p.m. the complainant stated he heard Jackson’s truck in his neighborhood, so he went and stood in his driveway. He then advised that Jackson went over the curb and into the driveway and that he had to move to avoid getting hit by the vehicle.

Mize says officers requested Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputies to make contact with Jackson at his residence in Eastanollee; however, Jackson was not there. A warrant, according to Mize, is pending for Jackson for aggravated assault.