Traffic Stop Nets Meth Charges

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

According to Sheriff Davis, on Saturday September 23, 2017, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a vehicle in the parking lot of Ingles for a traffic violation. The driver did not have his driver’s license on him, so during a check of his license status a Sheriff’s K9 was deployed.

The K9 gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. The driver was asked to get out of the vehicle. When he did he removed his hand from his pocket and dropped a bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine. He was arrested and another bag was found in his other pocket.

​The contents of both bags were tested in a roadside kit, both testing positive for methamphetamine and each bag weighed approximately 3.5 grams.

Michael Dean Byers, 45 of Warne, was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He has already made a $10,000 bond and had a September 25, 2017 court date.

Sheriff Davis said this is another example of the K9s making a positive impact on the county; with their help we were able to get more drugs off the street.