TPD recover drugs from 2 backpacks

Officers with the Toccoa Police Department has recently recovered drugs from a few backpacks.

According to Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize, on Aug. 22, officers were dispatched to Prather Park Drive, after receiving a tip from a citizen, who reportedly seen a backpack containing a large amount of marijuana.

Once officers arrived, they identified Keaskia Vantasia Thompson sitting next to the backpack. They asked to look in the backpack; but, before Thompson handed it over, she removed a bag of chips.

While looking in the backpack, officers spotted a green Crown Royal sack placed inside the chip bag, prompting them to search it; inside, officers found 72 small jeweler’s baggies containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

Officers also found a metal grinder with residue and a Georgia Driver’s License belonging to Virginia Leanna Price. When contacted by police, Price admitted the backpack belonged to her, but, denied owning the marijuana.

Keaskia Thompson, 21, of Toccoa, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug related objects.

Later at the Police Department, Price came in to claim ownership of the marijuana.

Virginia Leanna Price, 18, of Toccoa, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug related objects.

In a separate case, on Aug. 28, officers were dispatched to E. Currahee St. in reference to a suspicious person causing a disturbance. Officers initially located a female, identified as Gina May Wells, 35, of Toccoa, yelling on Toccoa St.

While officers spoke with Wells, she dropped a small backpack she had been holding and said they could not search it. A female officers proceeded to do a body pat down, while the department’s canine was used to do a “free air” sniff of the backpack where he alerted to drugs.

A metal-can was found with a small baggie of a crystal substance believed to be Methamphetamine.

After some resistance, Wells, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and obstruction.

She was transported to the Stephens County Jail for processing without further incident.