Sheriff's Reports 12-5-24: Pair arrested after meth found during traffic stop

A man and a woman were arrested after deputies found meth during a traffic stop.

On Nov. 29, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Richardson was patrolling the area of North 480 Road when he observed an SUV with a defective brake light. Richardson was approaching the vehicle when he noticed the tag was out of date by eight months. The driver, Danny Shirrel, handed the deputy his license and advised he didn't have the vehicle's insurance with him. Dispatch advised that Shirrel's license was suspended and he had a warrant. Shirrel was arrested and placed in the back of Richardon's patrol vehicle. Wendy Shaw, the passenger, was told she would need to call someone for a ride since the vehicle was going to be impounded. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a glass smoking device and a small container that had a crystal-like substance, which tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine. Shaw was arrested and booked for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Nov. 25, Deputy Kevin Cohen was dispatched to East Collins Road and State Highway 51 for a disturbance. The deputy spotted the suspected vehicle passing him as he was responding to the call and made contact with Josiah Finney, who had an odor of alcohol coming from his person. Finney was speaking with the deputy when Cohen was advised that the victim accused him of "smacking" her during an argument, leaving marks. Finney was detained and admitted the two were arguing, but denied getting physical with the victim. The man said there were two rifles and a pistol in the vehicle. Finney was arrested after a field sobriety test and booked for domestic assault and battery, driving under the influence, and transporting a firearm while intoxicated.

Deputy Jaxon Thomlinson was called to a residence on North 477 Road Nov. 26 due to a 911 hang up call. Dispatch advised they could hear a woman screaming and cussing during the call. Thomlinson was told that David Pacheco was locked out of the residence and left in a gold Malibu, which passed Thomlinson as he was responding to the call. Thomlinson turned his vehicle around and pulled Pacheco over. Pacheco claimed he and a woman got into an argument before he left the residence. He said the woman threw water on him while he was sleeping, but the woman claimed Pacheco threw a water bottle at her, striking her in the head. She had a mark on her forehead and wanted to press charges. Pacheco was arrested and booked for domestic assault and battery.

On Dec. 2, Deputy Cohen was driving on U.S. Highway 62 when he observed a truck with a defective taillight. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and met with the driver, who was identified as Jose Alberto Ledesma Coca. The man said he didn't have a driver's license and was arrested.

These are arrests, not convictions.