A Cobb County teenager was among three people charged late last week by Winder police with trafficking methamphetamine after cops found more than a pound of the drug stashed away in a car and backpack.
Police in the Barrow County city became suspicious when they noticed two vehicles stopped illegally on Elm Street around 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. The Winder Police Department said in a press release that officers observed the drivers of both vehicles exchange backpacks before they were approached by the cops.
Winder police asked what the motorists were doing in the road, and the drivers gave “conflicting statements” about their actions, the agency said. One of the officers also picked up on the scent of marijuana coming from one of the vehicles. After one of the drivers admitted to smoking and possessing the drug, officers searched the vehicle and found marijuana and a “large quantity of methamphetamine” inside a backpack, Winder police added. A search of the other car was conducted, and cops found more meth, marijuana, a firearm and a large amount of cash.
Yolanda Mata-Mandez, 17, of Marietta, was charged with one count each of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.
David Villanueva, 18, of Lithia Springs, is also charged with one count each of trafficking meth, possession of meth, possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Gloria Portillo, 25, of Winder, was charged with trafficking meth, possession of meth, possession of marijuana, driving on the wrong side of the road, possessing drug-related objects and stopping in the roadway.
Winder police say that since the total amount of meth weighed about two pounds, all three suspects were charged with felony trafficking.
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