Driver on wrong side of road faces multiple charges

Published 2:48 pm Thursday, July 18, 2019

A Bell County Deputy had to swerve to miss a driver traveling in his lane Wednesday night, and that driver is now facing multiple charges.

According to a press release from the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, deputy Adam Southern initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, 24-year-old Michael Payne.

Payne remains in the Bell County Detention Center and is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), first-degree trafficking a controlled substance (greater than 2 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia and careless driving.

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During the traffic stop, Southern was also able to confirm that Payne was driving on a suspended license and has two outstanding warrants.

Southern searched the vehicle and discovered a large bag containing several individual baggies of crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that was packaged for resale, one set of digital weighing scales that were, according to the press release, covered in crystal residue and empty syringes.

A passenger in the vehicle, 30-year-old Tiffany Lewis, was also found to have an outstanding warrant and was placed under arrest.

She remains was charged additionally with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), first-degree trafficking a controlled substance greater than 2 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia and was served a bench warrant for failure to pay a fine for possession of a controlled substance.

As of press time, Payne and Lewis remained in the Bell County Detention Center.