Two Arrested on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop

(MITCHELL) – Two people were arrested Thursday after their vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation.

Tiffany Michael

Mitchell Police officers arrested 39-year-old Dale Jones and 35-year-old Tiffany Michael, both of Huron, on charges of possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dale Jones

Michael is also facing a charge of possession of marijuana. In addition, she was issued citations for driving while her driver’s license was suspended and an open container violation.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Thursday at 5:47 p.m. a Mitchell Police officer was on patrol when he noticed Tiffany Michael driving a vehicle at the Shell gas station near Main Street. The officer knew Michael had a suspended driver’s license.

The officer parked in the adjacent parking lot where he could watch the vehicle. Both Michael and Jones exited the vehicle and walked inside the station. The officer also went into the station. When they both noticed the officer purchasing items they abruptly turned and got back into the vehicle.

The vehicle then left the lot with Michael driving. The two then pulled into the Marathon gas station on State Road 37. Again the officer parked in an adjacent lot and watched. The officer was able to identify that Michael was in fact the driver.

The officer was then able to identify the passenger as Dale Jones and was able to confirm Jones also had suspended driving privileges with a prior conviction.

As the vehicle pulled from the lot, the officer noticed the rear turn signal was indicating the driver was making a left turn on State Road 37. The driver however then turned right on State Road 37 traveling northbound. The officer stopped the vehicle.

The officer then requested Michael’s driver’s license.

Michael told the officer she had a ”conditional lisence” but did not have her driver’s license or conditional paperwork with her.

She also told police she failed to obtain SR22 insurance and her license may have gotten suspended again.

Her passenger Dale Jones had no identification on him.

Michael was then asked if there was anything illegal inside of the vehicle and both occupants made a nervous laugh and stated there was not. Police say both appeared nervous.

But officer noticed Michael was looking at a yellow container near her.

Officers then asked for consent to search the vehicle but she denied that request.

A K-9 then alerted police to possible drugs in the vehicle.

Inside the yellow container police found 2.60 grams of marijuana.

In a purse behind the driver seat, police located a pill bottle that had Michael’s name on the label. Inside of the bottle the officer located a plastic baggie that contained 0.45 grams of a rock-like substance that tested positive for meth. Police also found a glass smoking device to smoke meth under the passenger seat. They also found a half bottle of alcohol on the floorboard of the vehicle.

Michael told police all of the drugs were hers and not Jones.