A traffic stop outside a Cornelia hotel led to a couple’s arrest for alleged drug trafficking. Habersham County deputies arrested Crystal Dawn Tellez of Mt. Airy and Joseph Skimehorn of Woodbury, Tennessee, on Wednesday, February 23.
According to the incident report, Deputy Brandon Holcomb pulled over the Dodge Challenger they were in after he said Skimehorn made an illegal turn onto GA 385/US 441 Business while leaving the Baymont Hotel in Cornelia. While interviewing the driver, Holcomb said he smelled marijuana coming from the car. That prompted a search which officials say led to the discovery of drugs and items commonly used to distribute illegal narcotics.
During the search, deputies found what appeared to be a jar of marijuana, several Ziplock bags of suspected methamphetamine, digital scales with residue, and a bag of new Ziplock baggies. According to the arrest warrants, officers seized more than 28 grams of suspected meth.
A 12-year old boy and a 4-year-old girl were in the backseat of the car where the marijuana was found. They were turned over to the custody of their grandmother.
Deputies arrested Skimehorn and Tellez and charged both with trafficking meth and possession of drugs with intent to distribute. As of Friday, February 25, they remained in the Habersham County jail without bond.
The sheriff’s office turned over the case to the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office task force in Cleveland.
