Local authorities charged two Georgia residents Tuesday with drug offenses after stopping them on Interstate 85.
Michael Eugene Rice, 36, of Shannon, Ga., and Rita Miranda Tillmann, 42, of Buchanan, Ga., were stopped for a traffic infraction in a rented minivan with Georgia plates at mile marker 74 on I-85 northbound.
Rice, who rented the van, declined law enforcement officers’ request to search the van, but a drug detection dog identified the presence of narcotics, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said.
A search was conducted of the van and officers discovered a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine, a small quantity of methamphetamine and three Xanax tablets. They also found $9,023 in cash and a handgun in Rice’s possession.
Rice is a concealed carry permit holder.
Rice and Tillmann were each charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of Xanax and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. They were released after posting $5,000 bond apiece.
The money was given to the Department of Homeland Security.
The arrest was a joint effort by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit and the Davie County Sheriff’s Office.