Submitted by
Sheriff Mark Buchanan
On June 12, Clay County Sgt. Tyler Faggard noted Edward Michael Howes, 41, of West Palm Beach, Fla. get into the driver’s seat of a black Ford Mustang at the Dollar General Store parking lot east of Hayesville. Faggard was aware that Howes’ North Carolina driving privileges were revoked.
Faggard saw this Mustang pull out of the parking lot and beian traveling east on US Highway 64. Faggard briefed Clay County Investigator Nick Queen of the situation, after which Queen stopped the car at the intersection of Village Circle and Highway 64. Victoria Hancock Chance, 54, ofMurphy was found to be a passenger within the Mustang. Upon his arrival, Sgt Faggard asked if there was anything illegal in the car and if he would be allowed to search it. Chance said it was not their car and they couldn’t give consent to have it searched.
By this time Clay County K-9 Officer Steven Smith arrived on the scene of this traffic stop. Smith’s K-9, Luca, gave a positive alert on the Mustang indicating a controlled substance was present. During the subsequent search of the Mustang, Faggard saw that the console around the gearshift had been pulled out of its original state. Faggard pulled this console up revealing a hidden void where he found a green pouch containing a clear smoking pipe and a clear baggy containing a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both Chance and Howe denied ownership of these two items During the search, Smith located an orange straw with a crystal-like residue inside. The Mustang was seized and taken to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office impound lot.
Chance and Howe were arrested and charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Howe was also charged with Driving While License Revoked. Chance was also charged with Aid & Abet Driving While License Revoked. Chance and Howe were both given a $20,000 secured bond.