Toccoa man arrested following traffic stop by TPD

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

According to Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize, on February 3, officers were patrolling the area of Big A Road and Davis Avenue when they observed a vehicle without headlights or taillights.

Mize says, when stopped, the driver advised that he was just trying to get home.

The driver had no license on him, so the officer had his information run through the GCIC system and that came back that his license was suspended.

After exiting the vehicle, the driver commented that the car was not his and if anything was found it was not his.

The officers asked if they could search the vehicle and he complied, stating again that the vehicle was not his.

Mize says a Deputy and his canine from the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office were called to search the vehicle.

The deputy recovered a baggy with white residue, four blue pills in plastic wrap, and a loaded Ruger LCP.

Joseph Glenn Atha, 35, of Toccoa was arrested and charged with Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, driving while license withdrawn and head/tail light requirements.