Stephens County Sheriff’s Office makes drug arrest

STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. – A deputy with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol when he observed a red in color Mitsubishi Eclipse at the American Eagle Gas Station.

The deputy observed a male standing at the driver’s side window doing what the deputy suspected to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction to the male driver of the vehicle.

The male then walked around the vehicle and got into the passenger seat of the vehicle. The vehicle then pulled onto South Broad Street with no occupants having seatbelts on.

The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at the intersection of West Franklin Street and South Broad Street. The deputy identified the driver as Steven Shiley, 30, of Toccoa and the passenger as Dedrick Johnson, 54, of Martin.

After speaking to the occupants and observing several signs of nervous behavior, the deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle, which was granted by Shiley.

While searching the vehicle, deputies located a black backpack under the passenger seat.

The backpack contained three bags of suspected methamphetamine, one bag of suspected cocaine, one bag of suspected marijuana, and some paraphernalia.

Johnson was also found to have a glass smoking pipe in his left pants pocket. Johnson admitted to possession of the items, was placed under arrest, and transported to the Stephens County Jail.

Shiley was released from the traffic stop.

Johnson was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession and Use of Drug Related Objects, and
Seatbelt Violation.

Johnson is currently being held on a $43,000 bond and a probation hold.