Couple arrested on drug charges, child placed in custody of DFCS

CLAYTON — A North Carolina couple was recently arrested after law enforcement seized suspected drug paraphilia from their vehicle during a traffic stop in Clayton.

And, the couple also had a child in the vehicle according to the police report obtained by WRBN/WGHC News.

Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop at approximately 10:30 p.m. on April 26 after they observed a silver Toyota Nissan swerving and failing to maintain it’s lane.

The vehicle compiled and pulled over on the side of Bo James Street inside the Clayton city limits. As the deputy approached, he smelled a faint odor of marijuana according to the police report.  

The deputy observed two adult subjects and one child within the vehicle. The driver was asked to step outside and was identified as Amber Lynn Bates, 27, of Franklin, North Carolina. The passenger was identified as Thomas Andrew Green, 30, also of Franklin, North Carolina.

The Clayton Police Department arrived on scene and assisted by interviewing Green while the sheriff’s deputy interviewed Bates.

Both Bates and Green told officers conflicting stories until eventually, Bates admitted to spending the day in Atlanta. She also advised law enforcement that she had smoked marijuana earlier.

Law enforcement received consent to search the vehicle and allowed the child to remain inside throughout the search at which time they recovered a blue plastic cylinder with faint traces of a powder substance along with a set of scales located in the driver’s purse.

Also located on Green was a syringe in his front right pocket.

Both Bates and Green were transported to the Rabun County Detention Center and were individually charged with one count of possession and use of drug-related objects.

The child was turned over to the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) due to no nearby relatives to take custody of the child.