WILLIAMSON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – What started as a routine traffic stop in Williamson quickly turned suspicious when officers discovered more than just traffic violations — including a powdery surprise that the suspect insisted was “just powdered sugar.”
Deputy May of the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office was on patrol when an older model Buick sedan rolled through a stop sign without stopping. Initiating a standard traffic stop, Deputy May approached the vehicle and immediately spotted a large revolver resting in plain view on the back seat.
The driver and passenger, identified as Debby Jo Edwards, were asked to exit the vehicle. The driver admitted to having another firearm stashed in the center console and gave Deputy May permission to retrieve both weapons. That’s when things got a little more interesting.
During a pat-down search, Deputy May noticed a small bag hanging from the waistband of Edwards’ pants. With permission to search her belongings, the deputy found a small pink vial containing a small amount of marijuana. But that wasn’t all.
In a black bag Edwards claimed as hers, officers found a black case containing a baggie of white powdery substance. When questioned, Edwards confidently claimed the mystery powder was “just powdered sugar.” Also in the case were multiple small plastic baggies — often associated with drug distribution.
Edwards was charged with Possession of a Counterfeit Substance under West Virginia Code §60A-4-401(b)(i), a felony offense.
As of now, the white substance is being sent for laboratory testing to determine its true identity. Authorities remind the public that trying to pass off suspicious substances as common pantry items doesn’t fool experienced law enforcement — especially when they come packaged in dealer-style baggies.
