Two Cleveland residents arrested on Towns County drug charges

A traffic stop in Towns County Friday evening led to the arrest of two Cleveland residents. Deputies conducted the stop at the intersection of Highways 76 and 17, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office says. While searching the vehicle, authorities say they confiscated a “substantial amount” of methamphetamine that field-tested positive.

“Further investigation revealed the driver was a high-level supplier who was delivering pre-packaged methamphetamine designated for sale to local drug dealers in Towns County and Clay County,” the sheriff’s office says in a news release. “These prepackaged bags of methamphetamine can be cut by local dealers who can then lace the methamphetamine with other dangerous drugs.”

Deputies charged Anderson David Dowdy and Shannon Nichole Philbeck, both 24, with multiple felonies, including trafficking and possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Authorities also charged Dowdy with felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Methamphetamine deputies say they seized from a vehicle they pulled over in Towns County on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Facebook)

Both suspects were booked at the Towns County jail. As of Tuesday evening, April 18, Dowdy and Philbeck remained in jail.

Town County Sheriff Ken Henderson applauded what he called a “major bust that intercepted drugs packaged for sale in our community.”

“An investigation indicated that this supplier has been supplying drugs to our local dealers for three years,” Henderson says.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office assisted Towns County with the investigation, which remains active and ongoing.

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Now Habersham news partner WRWH Radio contributed to this report