A Clayton man is facing a felony trafficking charge after a routine traffic stop for a defective light escalated into a search for discarded narcotics.
At approximately 12:34 A.M., Captain Austin Golden of the Atoka County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a red Toyota Camry near Highway 3 and Renick Street. The driver, identified as Kenneth William Mitchell, failed to yield immediately, leading the captain on a short pursuit through several city streets. During the slow-speed chase, the vehicle briefly left the roadway on 11th Street before finally stopping at the intersection of McClendon Street.
When questioned about the delay in stopping, Mitchell claimed he was 'finding a good spot to pull over.' However, a search of the area where the vehicle had left the roadway revealed a black zip-up bag lying in the grass. Inside the bag, deputies discovered a large quantity of methamphetamine and a variety of other illegal substances.
