Published: April 18, 2007 09:44 am         

Woman arrested on multiple drug counts

PALESTINE — A 34-year-old Palestine woman was arrested on five charges following a Monday afternoon traffic stop which uncovered large quantities of illegal narcotics, including cocaine and Ecstasy tablets.

Daphene Kay Mitchell, 34, of Palestine remained in the Anderson County Jail as of Tuesday afternoon on charges of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance 4-to-200 grams; manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance 4-to-400 grams; manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance 28-to-200 grams; manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance less than 28 grams; and possession of marijuana 2-to-4 ounces, according to authorities.

Mitchell was arrested shortly before 12:30 p.m. Monday following a traffic stop on North Loop 256 near the intersection of Court Drive, according to Gary Wilbanks, sergeant with the Anderson County Drug Investigation Unit.

Wilbanks said Mitchell, who was operating a rented 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, was pulled over for speeding by Palestine police officer Melvin Hill.

The officer subsequently obtained a consent to search the vehicle from Mitchell, according to Wilbanks.

During that search, Wilbanks said authorities located approximately 4.5 grams of “suspected cocaine in small ziplock baggies – some of which was powder and some of which was crack,” in addition to 31 Ecstasy tablets weighing approximately 10 grams; 151 Hydrocodone tablets weighing 99.2 grams; 16.5 grams of Xanax in the form of 64 whole tablets and other partial tablets; and 35.6 grams of marijuana in sandwich-type bags.

Those drugs were all contained in a purse located inside the vehicle, the sergeant stated.

Also found was a set of “digital scales” commonly used in the weighing of narcotics, he added.

A 4-year-old girl, who is believed to be the suspect’s daughter, was in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop, according to Wilbanks.

After searching the vehicle, authorities then gained consent to search Mitchell’s residence at 3000 N. Jackson St., Wilbanks said.

“Lucky,” the canine officer for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the woman’s house to assist in that search, he stated.

“He (Lucky) alerted to the presence of narcotics in the garage and a small safe was located,” Wilbanks said.

After using a key from Mitchell’s key ring to access the safe, authorities say they then located 31.4 grams of marijuana; 2 grams of Xanax; 0.5 gram of crack cocaine; and items commonly utilized in the illegal trafficking of narcotics, including razor blades, packaging materials and batteries.

Authorities also seized a total of $1,772 cash from the vehicle operated by Mitchell, with most of the money in the form of $20 bills or smaller denominations, according to Wilbanks.

Based on the quantity of drugs and other factors, Wilbanks confirmed that he believed Mitchell was involved in the trafficking of illegal narcotics.

     

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