Traffic stop results in drug charges for passenger

It was 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 19, 2025 when state police stopped Taja Nicole Wert, 42, of 1753 Four Mile Drive, Apt. 9, after allegedly witnessing a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, in which she was a passenger, cross over the fog line three times along Interstate 180 East, near Mile Marker 17.5 in Muncy Township, an affidavit said.

Police allegedly detected an odor of raw marijuana and secured consent from the driver to search the vehicle and Wert to search her person.

Allegedly discovered within Wers’ purse was a vape pen with suspected THC oil. Wert related that she did not possess a medical marijuana card, court documents said.

She was arraigned on charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia by District Judge Kirsten Gardner, and released on $5,000 bail.

Loud exhaust system leads to drug charges

What began as a simple traffic stop for an inoperable brake light and an unlawfully loud exhaust system on Jan. 30, 2025, ended with the driver, Tanner Barry Sanders, 23, of 405 Trinity Place, Apt. 1B, facing drug charges, according to court documents.

Upon being stopped in the 100 block of Crawford Alley in Mountourseville, Sanders related that he was on his way to drop his truck off at Wal-Mart and advised that his girlfriend of two weeks was present in the vehicle.

The female passenger, however, allegedly told police that two were on their way to meet up with friends at a nearby convenience store. She further stated that she and Sanders were not dating, and that she had known him for a month or two, state police said in an affidavit.

During a consensual search of the vehicle, police allegedly discovered half of an orange piece of a pill, which Sanders identified as suboxone.

Lab results would determine that the pill contained buprenorphine, as well as a residual amount of cocaine, according to an affidavit.

A driver’s history for Sanders revealed that he had previously been found guilty of driving on a suspended license on 10 separate occasions.

Sanders was arraigned on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and four summary offenses by District Judge Gary Whiteman, and released on $5,000 bail.

Williamsport woman faces drug charges after being stopped for obscured license plate

Navaya Tayonia Payton, 20, of 635 Fourth St., faces several drug-related charges after initially being stopped by state police in the 1800 block of Lycoming Creek Road in Old Lycoming Township, for an obscured license plate on the evening of July 3, 2025, according to court documents.

An odor of marijuana was detected from the passenger compartment, though not on Payton’s person, police noted in an affidavit, while describing her as nervous, restless and talkative.

When asked, Payton acknowledged that she did not possess a medical marijuana card.

During a consensual search of her 2014 Nissan Altima, police allegedly discovered a ziplock bag containing suspected marijuana leaf, a digital scale, two pills containing suspected Gabapentin and two raw rolling papers, according to an affidavit.

District Judge William Solomon arraigned Payton on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense.