Trooper Stops Speeding Vehicle, Discovers Marijuana in Back Seat

A state trooper on routine patrol in Lyons stopped a speeding vehicle and discovered a trash bag filled with marijuana in the back seat. The driver of the vehicle, Shayla Tiahha Murray, 28, of Blackshear, was arrested in connection with the incident that occurred on Wednesday, October 27, around 9:37 p.m.

Murray has been charged with Trafficking in Marijuana and is being held at the Toombs County Detention Center where she has been denied a bond at this time. A press release from the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office reported that the Georgia State Patrol officer from Post 18 in Reidsville was patrolling in the area of North State Street and Skyline Boulevard in Lyons when he detected a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on a red Chevrolet Impala to address the speeding violation.

As he approached the vehicle, the trooper detected the strong odor of marijuana emanating from the car. W hi l e s p e a king with Murray at the driver’s window, the trooper observed a large black trash bag in the back seat of the vehicle with the top of the bag open. The trooper observed what appeared to be packages of marijuana inside of the bag. At this point, Murray was placed under arrest and removed from the vehicle. Murray stated to the trooper that she had been smoking marijuana. The trooper then requested assistance and another trooper from Post 18, Officers with the Lyons Police Department, and Deputies with the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers discovered a small brown bag containing marijuana in the front seat area, along with the large plastic trash bag in the rear seat. During a further search of the trash bag, law enforcement officers discovered 10 bags of marijuana weighing approximately 10 pounds in total.

The marijuana was transported to the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office where the trooper and deputies processed the evidence and placed it into evidence storage. A Taskforce Agent with the Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office was contacted and the investigation has been turned over that office.