A routine traffic stop on Mountain View Road led to the arrest of a local woman on multiple drug-related charges. Wendy Michelle Ray, 47, was taken into custody by a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The incident began around the intersection of Mountain View Road and Highway 27. A deputy observed a silver Dodge Journey traveling west on Mountain View Road fail to maintain its lane multiple times, crossing both the center lane and the fog line. A check of the vehicle’s license plate revealed that the registration was canceled and the tag was flagged as possibly lost or stolen in the GCIC system.

When the deputy initiated a traffic stop at the Trion Water Treatment Plant on Highway 27, the driver displayed noticeable nervousness. After advising Matthews of the reasons for the stop, the deputy asked for her driver’s license. The driver stated it was somewhere in the vehicle.

Due to her apparent anxiety, the deputy asked the driver to step out of the vehicle. He inquired if there was anything in the car he should be aware of, to which the driver responded negatively. Deputy Claxton then requested permission to search the vehicle for narcotics, which the driver verbally granted.

During the subsequent search, conducted after asking the front passenger, later identified as Wendy Ray, and the rear passenger, to exit the vehicle, the deputy discovered a black book bag on the passenger side. Inside the front pocket of the bag, officers found four clear baggies each containing a crystal-like substance. A glass smoking device, commonly used for drug consumption, was also found beside the seat.

When questioned about the ownership of the book bag, Wendy Ray reportedly stated that it belonged to her. She was subsequently arrested and placed in handcuffs. During the continued search, an ibuprofen pill bottle was also found within the bag. Inside this bottle, two white pills with the imprint “D-24” were discovered. A pill identifier later confirmed these to be Gabapentin.

The crystal-like substance found in the baggies later tested positive for both methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Wendy Michelle Ray has been charged with:

Possession of methamphetamine (Felony)
Possession of fentanyl (Felony)
Possession of drug-related objects (Misdemeanor)
Drugs not kept in original container (Misdemeanor)

Ray was transported to the Chattooga County Jail and turned over to jail staff. The evidence collected during the investigation has been secured and will be submitted for further testing. All events were reportedly captured on Deputy Claxton’s body-worn camera.