Cigarette, erratic driving lead to woman's arrest on drug charges

A car being driven erratically on Cosby Highway caught the attention of a patrolling Cocke County Sheriff Deputy and ended with the driver being arrested on drug charges.

The driver may also wish to seriously consider giving up cigarettes.

According to an incident report filed by Deputy Alex Reese, while on patrol he spotted a 2003 Honda Accord failing to maintain its lane of travel July 10 on Cosby Highway. After pulling behind the vehicle, it crossed the white line multiple times and began to switch lanes multiple times leading to a traffic stop on Cosby Highway in the median.

The driver, identified as Debra Spence, 51, told Reese she was trying to get to her brother’s house but was lost. She reportedly stated she did not have a driver’s license due to getting a DUI last year. It was confirmed she was revoked for DUI and she was placed under arrest.

She then asked if she could smoke a cigarette and asked not to be taken to jail.

Reese retrieved her purse so Spence could get a cigarette and while getting the pack out of the pocketbook Spence is reported to have stated there was a used syringe in the purse. Upon being asked, Spence said the last time she used methamphetamines was two days ago. When asked if there was anything illegal in the car, she is reported to have stated “not that I know of.” She also said, per the report, that the red pocketbook inside the vehicle was not hers and she did not know whose it was. The pocketbook was found within Spence’s arm’s reach in the passenger seat according to Reese’s report.

Inside the pocketbook were three plastic baggies containing a crystal-like substance in each baggie, along with several small baggies and two sets of scales commonly used with manufacture and resale.

Reese’s report states the first baggie weighed .90 grams of crystal-like substance, the second baggie weighed 14.3 grams and was a rock-like substance and the third baggie weighed 14.87 grams of a crystal-like substance, all suspected to be methamphetamines. All together, the items weighed 30.07 grams.

Spence was charged with unlawful drug paraphernalia uses, driving while in possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sale/deliver/manufacture, driving while license revoked, failure to maintain lane and financial responsibility.

She was transported to the Cocke County Jail Annex.

The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office advised Spence’s bond was set at $30,000.