A Buffalo Valley woman faces several charges following a traffic stop in Carthage Thursday, January 12.
Deputy Dakota Hunter of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office observed a dark colored truck at the red light intersection of Highway 25 and Myers Street, blocking the right turning lane going into Walmart.
According to the arrest warrant, the vehicle did move out of the turning lane but stopped in the middle of traffic going toward Sonic.
Hunter made contact with the driver, identified as 47-year-old Ginger Smith of Buffalo Valley, and asked her why she kept stopping in the middle of traffic.
Upon Smith getting her driver’s license and other information, Hunter noticed that she had slurred speech and that when she was getting her information, she dropped several papers and didn’t know what they were.
According to the arrest warrant, Hunter asked Smith if she had taken any medication, to which she stated no.
Hunter asked her to step out of the vehicle and that he was going to conduct the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) to see if she was okay to drive, of which she failed, according to the arrest warrant.
A pill bottle was located in Smith’s right coat pocket containing two Buprenorphine and one Xanax bar. The bottle was prescribed to her daughter.
Hunter advised Smith of the Implied Consent Law, to which she denied Implied Consent.
Smith was placed under arrest and transported to the Smith County Jail Facility for booking.
She is charged with driving under the influence, violation of implied consent law, possession of schedule III, and possession of schedule IV.
Ginger Woodard Smith
