Cops: Summerville woman ate drugs at license checkpoint

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Police say a Summerville woman who had two children in her car ate drugs while being arrested at a driver's license checkpoint in Eutawville Friday night.

Eutawville Police say Shantia Shalar Simmons, 25, was in a vehicle with two juvenile children and a 32-year-old man when she approached the checkpoint on Porcher Avenue around 8:45 p.m.

While obtaining Simmons' driver's license, the officer reported seeing a bag of green leafy substance on the center console of the vehicle, according to a police incident report.

At that time, the officer asked Simmons to place the vehicle in park. According to the report, she then turned away from the officer and grabbed the suspected marijuana.

The officer then drew his tazer and instructed Simmons and her passenger, Stewart Anthony Frasier, to show their hands. Frasier, according to the report, complied.

After resisting arrest, Simmons was eventually handcuffed, police said. Police noticed the bag of suspected marijuana and another bag of a white powdery substance on the ground where Simmons was, the report stated.

Officers placed the bags of suspected drugs on the trunk of one of the cruisers. As Simmons again attempted to pull away from authorities, they placed her against the rear of the cruiser near the suspected drugs, according to the report.

Moments later Simmons appeared to be eating something, and officers noticed that the small baggie of a white powdery substance was missing, police said. She was instructed to spit out what was in her mouth, but she refused, according to police.

Officers then pepper-sprayed Simmons, but she continued to chew and make swallowing motions, officers said. She denied swallowing anything.

EMS responded and later transported Simmons to an area hospital for observation.

During a search of the vehicle, officers found $700 in cash along with multiple marijuana roaches, baggies, multiple cigars, 30.9 grams of suspected marijuana and 3.9 grams of white power believed to be cocaine, according to the report.

The children were released to their mother-in-law.

Frasier was transported to the Orangeburg County Detention Center on drug charges.

Early the next morning, Simmons released from the hospital and booked into the detention center and charged with resisting arrest and possession of cocaine fifth offense.

Copyright 2013 WIS. All rights reserved.