The Ludowici Police Department continued its crackdown on drugs with another recent drug bust.  

Chief Robert Poppell said  Capt. Travis Thomas was operating the department’s mobile-plate reader Friday on Highway 84 when he detected a positive alert for an insurance suspension on a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Poppell said Thomas initiated a traffic stop in the Brown Bagger parking lot. Thomas confronted the driver, who identified herself as Douglas resident Tiffany Tape, 24. Poppell said the officer detected a strong scent of marijuana after approaching the vehicle. Thomas requested additional assistance, and a second LPD officer and two Long County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded. Poppell said the three additional law-enforcement officers also confirmed the smell of marijuana coming from the car.

According to Thomas, Tape said the smell was coming from some marijuana “roaches” that she had thrown out earlier.
At this point, Thomas advised Tape of her rights and began searching her car. Five plastic bags filled with marijuana, several unidentified pills and $250 were found. He said the amount of marijuana discovered was just less than 1 pound.

Poppell said Tape refused to take a field test to determine whether she was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was placed under arrest. She was charged with felony possession of marijuana, operating a vehicle without insurance and driving a vehicle with a suspended registration.

Poppell said Tape still is incarcerated with a bond of $7,500.

After the arrest, Poppell praised the work of his officers and thanked the sheriff’s office and Georgia State Patrol for their assistance.

“This is the second sizable amount of drugs seized by the Ludowici Police Department in two weeks,” Poppell said. “We are not going to tolerate drugs in our city or passing through it. If you are caught, you will be charged accordingly.”