Traffic stop in Oak Hill leads to drug arrests

OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A traffic stop in Oak Hill leads to drug arrests after a whitewater rafting adventure. One woman claimed she had nothing on her, lifted her shirt, and a bag of white powder fell from her chest.

On August 16, 2024, PFC S. M. Wilshire was on a routine patrol near Route 19 North at Summerlee Road when he observed a maroon Chevy Equinox traveling at 60 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. Patrolman Wilshire determined this speed by pacing the vehicle as it went by in the fast lane. After noticing the speeding violation, he activated his emergency blue lights to initiate a traffic stop. The car continued to roll slowly and eventually stopped just north of the Lochgelly bridge by the exit ramp.

He exited his patrol car and approached the passenger side, where he identified the driver as Ms. Michelle Canterbury. He explained the reason for the stop and requested her vehicle documents, which she provided. Two passengers were also in the car: Jaclyn Smith in the front seat and Christopher Manly in the back seat, both of whom also provided their identification.

After receiving the necessary documents, he asked Ms. Canterbury to come back to my patrol unit and sit in the front seat while he issued her a speed warning. During this time, he began a conversation and learned that she and her passengers had come from a friend’s house where they went whitewater rafting. Initially, the officer saw no water or rafting gear in the car or the passengers. Ms. Canterbury mentioned that the front passenger had difficulty walking and used a crutch due to a recent procedure. While writing the warning, he inquired about illegal substances in the vehicle, to which she denied having anything. He then asked for her consent to search the car, which she verbally granted.

The officer had Ms. Canterbury step to the front of his patrol unit while he returned to the maroon passenger vehicle. He first asked Mr. Manly to exit the car, then conducted a pat-frisk for weapons. During the frisk, he felt a hard object in Mr. Manly’s pants. The officer temporarily detained him and questioned him about the item, but he claimed not to remember what it was, so he was allowed to retrieve it. The officer found several items of drug paraphernalia and a set of digital scales containing a white powdery substance. He then placed Mr. Manly on the front bumper of the patrol unit and asked Ms. Smith to exit the vehicle. When she did, he informed her that a female officer would soon arrive to search her. She stated she had nothing on her but lifted her shirt, causing a bag of white powder to fall from her chest.

The officer deployed his K9 partner, Apollo, to conduct a sniff of the vehicle. During the initial pass, K9 Apollo signaled positively by freezing near the “B” post seam between the front and rear passenger seats. Following this positive indication, the officer conducted a probable cause search and found three baggies of white powder in a container inside a backpack on the rear passenger floor, along with a set of digital scales. SGT C. Kennedy from the Fayetteville Police Department arrived at the traffic stop and conducted a frisk of the front passenger, discovering a bag of a crystal-like substance weighing 3.18 grams on an unofficial scale. The white powder was also weighed at 4.66 grams on the same scale and divided into several tied baggies.

Based on training and experience, the substance in the bag is within Mr. Manly’s constructive possession, as well as the on-person substance on Ms. Smith, accompanied by the two separate sets of digital scales based on his training and experience, indicating the intent to distribute.

Also seized from the scene were Ms. Smith’s and Mr. Manly’s cellphones, which were placed into Oak Hill PD Evidence. Both individuals were transported to SRJ and await further proceedings. This incident occurred within the city limits of Oak Hill, WV, 25901.