By Joe Johnson
A Wednesday morning report of a woman who was hanging out of a car that was stopped in the middle of the road at a west Athens intersection led to the arrests of the woman and another occupant on drug and other charges, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.
Shortly after 7 a.m., officers responded to a report that the woman appeared to be going in and out of consciousness as she hung out the passenger window of a black Honda, according to the report.
While driving on Helen Street, an officer saw the Honda being driven by a man in the opposite direction, and later found it parked in the 400 block of Clover Street, according to the report.
A short time later, the officer reportedly saw the Honda traveling on Hawthorne Avenue and performed a traffic stop after realizing the car's tag was handwritten and illegible, the report noted.
After the car stopped, the officer saw that the male who had previously been driving was now in the passenger seat, making many furtive movements, according to the report.
While speaking to the male, identified as 29-year-old Kristopher Desmone Ellison of Monroe, the officer saw a grocery bag corner that had been torn apart and a powdery substance was strewn across the floorboard, according to the report.
A search of the vehicle found an opioid pill in the passenger seat, near the center console, the report noted.
“Because bot passengers were in control of the car and within that seat in less than a five-minute period, they were both charged with possession of a Schedule II substance and possession of prescription drugs outside of the original containers, according to the report.
The female occupant – Aravee Martica Thomas,27, of Maple Forge Drive--who initially identified herself using her sister’s name, was also charged with giving false information to police.
Both offenders were cited for driving while their licenses were suspended.