Traffic stop turns to drug arrest in Williamson County

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – A traffic stop turned into a drug arrest in Williamson County.

Arena E. Harris faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, driving while license revoked and no valid driver’s license.

Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies say they saw a driver commit a traffic violation at 2:21 a.m. on July 9 in the area of Route 13 and Route 148.

Deputies tried to stop the driver, but they say Harris continued driving until coming to a parking lot in the 9000 block of Route 148.

Harris told the deputies she did not have a driver’s license. Deputies say she had a revoked driver’s license, a warrant out of Clinton County for driving while revoked/DUI and a warrant out of Union County for possession of methamphetamine.

Before leaving, deputies searched the patrol vehicle and did a routine search of the vehicle. They say they found a clear plastic bag and a white crystal-like substance in the floorboard where Harris had been seated. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Deputies say Harris told them she dumped the meth in the floorboard of the patrol vehicle and stepped on to conceal the substance from the deputies.

She was taken to the Williamson County Jail.