3 charged with slew of trafficking, possession charges

Three men were arrested on a slew of trafficking and possession charges after law enforcement originally stopped their vehicle for an expired tag, but discovered a backpack full of narcotics instead.

Last Sunday, deputies with the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling in Clayton when they initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Accord for not having the proper registration.

Law enforcement pulled the vehicle over on Dunlap Street and attempted to identify the three individuals inside the car.

The driver was identified as Clayton Baggett, 21, of Lakemont and consented to a search on the vehicle.

The front seat passenger gave law enforcement a false name multiple times and was immediately placed under arrest. He was identified as Christopher Chase Clanton, 22, of Rabun Gap. The third passenger was identified as Angel Chavez Zalapa, 19, of Franklin, NC and was asked to exit the vehicle while authorities conducted a search.

The Clayton Police Department and Georgia State Troopers arrived on scene to assist and collectively authorities found a significant amount of drugs along with two loaded pistols.

The following was located in an orange watertight box found within a backpack; multiple pills of Xanax, Hydrocodone, Alprazolam, Tramadol, Adderall, THC oil capsules, MDMA, and 136 pink bear-shaped pills suspected to be ecstasy. Also located were five bags containing a crystal version of ecstasy.

A large amount of currency was also found on Clanton in the amount of $1,025. The firearms, narcotics and currency were seized as evidence and all three individuals were arrested and transported to the Raun County Sheriff’s Office.

Clanton, Baggett and Chavez all received the following charges: possession of a scheduled II controlled substance, possession of a scheduled IV controlled substance; trafficking in illegal drugs; possession of firearm during commission of a crime; possession and use of drug-related objects; prescription drugs must be in their original containers; sale, distribution, or possession of dangerous drugs; and purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of controlled substances.

Bagget received an additional charge of having no tag on the vehicle. Clanton was additionally charged with giving false name to law enforcement and possession of firearm by convicted felon.