A woman was arrested in Cornelia on several drug possession charges Tuesday.
Habersham County officials say sheriff's deputies were called to the Baymont hotel to reports of a suspicious woman being in the hotel’s lobby for an extended period of time. When authorities arrived, Brandy McLaughlin, 41, was asleep in the lobby with her car parked near the front door and running.
The hotel’s staff informed officers that McLaughlin had been on the premises for a long time and requested that she be charged with criminal trespassing. Officers reportedly tried to speak with McLaughlin, but she allegedly appeared to be under the influence.
The woman had an outstanding warrant in Madison County and officers detained her for that warrant. Deputies also reported smelling marijuana on her person and in her vehicle, which led to a search. During the search, deputies allegedly recovered a burnt marijuana cigarette from her back left pocket.
A probable cause search was also conducted on McLaughlin’s vehicle, where deputies reportedly found several contraband items. A large white purse in the driver seat of the vehicle contained identification belonging to McLaughlin along with a crystal-like substance in an open cigarette pack that tested positive for methamphetamine on the scene.
After arriving at the detention center, a deputy observed a plastic white bag with a substance that was consistent with methamphetamine and an open pack of cigarettes. Neither item was in the patrol car prior to Mclaughlin’s arrest.
Video surveillance of the back seat of the patrol car McLaughlin was transported in revealed she slipped her handcuffs and removed contraband from her person and allegedly ingested more drugs.
In addition to the warrant she faces in Madison County, McLaughlin was charged with the following:
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Possession of Meth
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Possession of a Controlled Substance (Xanax)
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Possession of Marijuana
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Possession of Drug related objects
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Crossing the guard line with contraband
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Tampering with evidence
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Driving while license revoked
