FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Newton woman faces a drug trafficking charge following a traffic stop by an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputy for a traffic violation.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Hannah Nicole O’Shields, 24, in a news release Tuesday.

O’Shields was traveling in a vehicle stopped by deputies assigned to the ICSO Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team on Friday, January 28, on Taylorsville Highway at Interstate 40, Campbell said.

While speaking with the driver of the vehicle, the deputies became suspicious of criminal activity based on the driver’s answers to their questions, according to the news release.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, and deputies found more than a half ounce of marijuana along with items of drug paraphernalia commonly used to sell illegal controlled substances, Campbell said.

The deputies also determined that the driver, along with a passenger of the vehicle, had outstanding warrants for their arrest, according to the news release.

While the deputies were searching the female passenger, O’Shields reached in the front of her pants and threw a plastic bag containing approximately two ounces of cocaine onto the road, Campbell said.

O’Shields was immediately taken into custody, and the cocaine was seized. She was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where she was charged with Felony Trafficking Cocaine by Possession, Felony Trafficking Cocaine by Transport, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana, Felony Maintain a Vehicle for the Use, Sale or Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

O’Shields was taken before Magistrate Thompson, who issued a $200,000 secured bond on these charges.