Mauldin Police: Routine Traffic Stop Yields Multiple Arrests

A routine traffic stop in Mauldin yielded numerous arrests on charges ranging from theft to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, a Mauldin Police Report said.

A car with four occupants was turning right onto South Main Street from West Butler Road when a police officer noticed that only one of the occupants was wearing a seat belt, the report said. When the officer stopped the car, he found more than he bargained for.

Officers noticed the driver was unsteady and slurring her speech. Inside the car they found a box of "whippets," or nitrous oxide containers, that can be huffed to get high. In addition, the officers also located a 10-pack of syringes in the rear passenger floorboard, the report said.

In addition, police found numerous items one occupant allegedly confessed had been stolen from Haywood Mall. In addition, several items of new clothing were found in the car, alleged to have been stolen at the Kmart on West Butler Road, the report said.

But that wasn't all.

The report said officers also found drug paraphernalia in the form of a glass pipe, plus packs of Sudafed and an unopened 32-ounce container of Coleman fuel — items commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

In addition to seatbelt violations, driver Tasha L. Smith, 31, of Fountain Inn was arrested and charged with petit larceny and conspiracy to manufacture meth; Christina L. Adams, 33, of Gray Court was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy to manufacture meth; Terry M. Chandler, 30, of Gray Court was arrested and charged with petit larceny and conspiracy to manufacture meth; and, Jaime J. Gaviria, 32, of Fountain Inn was arrested and charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth, the report said.