(Smith County Insider Press) Carthage, Tenn. – On Tuesday, August 18, Carthage City Police Department was dispatched to Wal-Mart because of a complaint of potential shoplifting. Upon arrival, the Carthage City Officer was informed by Wal-Mart management that a white female had been in the store for over an hour and that she was potentially placing items in her purse. Management also stated that she seemed to be under the influence. The female subject was identified as Amanda Nichole Leggett. The officer found Leggett in the makeup section of the store. The officer noticed that the her demeanor was odd and that she continued to drop items over and over. The officer asked her to go ahead and purchase the items she needed, then come outside with him because he wanted to make sure that she was ok.
Wal-Mart management made Leggett empty her bag to make sure that she had purchased all of the items she had put in there. Once she paid for everything in her bag, the officer and Leggett went outside at which time the officer asked for her consent to ride in the back of his patrol car over to Murphy gas station due to heavy rain. Leggett was informed that she was not under arrest at that time and she was not placed in handcuffs.
Upon arrival at Murphy gas station, Sgt. Dustin Hailey and Nathan Williams of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department came to assist the Carthage City officer. At that time, the Carthage City officer began performing a field sobriety test on Leggett. She did not perform well during the test, and the officer stated that she was very “erratic and hysterical” the entire time.
The officer then asked if Leggett had anything illegal in her possession, at which time she advised the officer that she had some marijuana and a pipe in her bag. She then gave consent for the officer to search her bag. During the search of her bag, the officer found a glass pipe, 5 Xanax pills, a marijuana cigarette, and a small baggy that had a methamphetamine rock in it.
Leggett was then placed under arrest for illegal drugs, and she was transported to Smith County Jail Facility by Deputy Nathan Williams for booking.
Leggett was charged with simple possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use, simple possession of schedule VI, and two counts of possession of schedule IV.
