A woman in Putnam County, New York, was arrested for allegedly driving while drug-impaired. During a traffic stop, authorities said they uncovered a total of 51 pounds of cannabis.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Saturday, July 25. At around 2:57 a.m., a deputy was patrolling Interstate-84 eastbound when she came across a black GMC SUV.
The sheriff’s office detailed that the vehicle committed multiple unspecified traffic violations. Therefore, a traffic stop was conducted.
Upon approaching the driver, later identified as 35-year-old Reynalda G. Sierra Mejia, the deputy observed several signs of impairment. These indicated, the PCSO said, that Mejia was driving while high on drugs.
51 Pounds of Drugs
An investigation shortly followed, as an additional deputy and a sergeant responded to the scene. It was during a subsequent search of the vehicle that the agents knew Mejia was in big trouble.
The sheriff’s office said that around 51 pounds of cannabis were recovered from the vehicle. The illegal drug was stored in numerous vacuum-sealed packages, all of which were stored in the vehicle’s trunk inside bags, as shown in the footage attached above.
Mejia was taking part in field sobriety tests when a deputy discovered the cannabis. He immediately arrested her, with the woman asking, “Why? What happened?” as she was handcuffed.
Other Findings, Arrested
In addition to the aforementioned cannabis, the PCSO said that a undclosed quiantity of separate narcotics was also found inside the car. A field test on the narcotics came back positive for ketamine.
One by one, the deputy loaded all the cannabis packages onto the back of the woman’s vehicle. Bagless and stacked on top of each other, the drugs almost hit the car’s roof, as shown in the bodycam footage released by the sheriff’s office.
Mejia, meanwhile, was placed in the patrol car’s backseat. She was transported to the Putnam County Correctional Facility. There, a drug recognition expert conducted an evaluation.
Serious Charges
Reynalda G. Sierra Mejia faces multiple charges in connection with the incident. These include first-degree criminal possession of cannabis, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired by drugs.
If convicted of the cannabis possession charge, she could spend up to 15 years in prison. A judge might also order her to pay a fine of up to $15,000.
Meanwhile, the other possession charge, which stemmed from the other narcotics found at the scene, could land her behind bars for an additional year. Finally, her impairment charge also carries a maximum one-year sentence.
No mugshot was released, and the woman’s face was blurred in the released bodycam footage.