MORGAN COUNTY
According to a report obtained from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, a Statesboro woman was arrested on Feb. 26 on multiple drug charges following a traffic stop on Apalachee Road near Hwy 441.
Starr Colleen Dixon, 35, faces charges of speeding (70 mph in a 55-mph zone), driving while license suspended, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute and possession of drug-related objects.
Deputy Thomas Ptak observed a silver Ford Taurus heading south past his location at Sidwell Road and Athens Highway and determined the car was exceeding the speed limit.
According to Ptak’s account, he was familiar with the vehicle from a previous incident on Feb. 18, when Dixon fled from Deputy Michael Ocon.
Using Morgan County’s Flock camera system, Ptak was able to discern a travel pattern for the vehicle that showed it traveling through Morgan County at about the same time most Saturdays and Sundays.
Ptak said that due to the pursuit on Feb. 18, he had other deputies present before he attempted to make the traffic stop. He said he pulled in behind the vehicle while Captain Brandon Sellers was in front of the Taurus in an unmarked vehicle.
Dixon turned onto Apalachee Road and appeared ready to flee after passing Sellers, but the two deputies used a “box in” technique to prevent a pursuit. The Taurus pulled over and Ptak ordered Dixon to exit the vehicle.
Ptak said he could smell marijuana when Dixon got out of the vehicle and a Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 alerted to the smell of narcotics.
During a search of the vehicle, Dixon revealed that she had cocaine and MDMA in her fanny pack. Ptak also found a large bag containing marijuana as well as a quantity of zip-lock bags and a digital scale. One of the cell phones Dixon had with her rang continuously during the incident, Ptak said.
In an interview at the Morgan County jail, Dixon revealed that she was headed to the Riverbend Correctional Facility to visit an acquaintance serving time for trafficking drugs.
She also admitted she planned to sell some of the drugs, according to the report. Ptak said that a search warrant was to be presented to a judge to examine the phone because of its proximity to the number of drugs.