Report: Highway runner had meth in pants

A Rhea County woman is facing several drug-related charges after deputies with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department initially stopped her to ask her why she was running into oncoming traffic on Highway 27.

Angelee J. Waters is facing charges, including possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, after Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jonathon Scott observed her running into traffic on Rhea County Highway on Thursday, April 25.

“[Waters) ran directly in front of a white Dodge that came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the highway to avoid hitting her,” Scott said. “At this time, I pulled my patrol car to the side of the road, behind a white Ford Ranger parked in the area.”

Scott said he then observed Waters enter the driver’s side of the Ford Ranger.

“I spoke with her to make sure everyone was okay,” Scott said. “She stated that her truck died and she needed someone to push her vehicle so she could start it. We also spoke about how unsafe it is to run into traffic on a four-lane state highway.

“I also noticed Angelee’s behavior to be common with someone who uses stimulant drugs. I asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, and she said, ‘Yes,’ and handed me a glass pipe with a white and burnt residue.”

Scott said he believed the residue to be methamphetamine and asked Waters to step out of the vehicle. He said that he and another deputy were given consent to search Waters’ purse, in which, according to an arrest report, deputies found Gabapentin, a Schedule V controlled substance.

Waters was placed under arrest, according to the report, and while detained in the patrol car she allegedly told deputies she had other controlled substances on her person.

“I allowed her to get out of the car, she reached into her buttocks area and removed a plastic-style bag with six amphetamine and dextroamphetamine 20 milligram pills,” Scott said. “She then reached into her right watch pocket and pulled out a plastic Ziploc-style bag with approximately 1.2 grams of a white powder substance, suspected to be methamphetamine.”

Waters was charged with disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to sell and possession of a Schedule V controlled substance. According to jail records, she has since bonded out of jail.