Woman faces drug charges after police pulled over car for busted tag light

A woman appeared in Columbus Recorder’s Court Thursday afternoon to face methamphetamine and ecstasy charges.

Veronica Benton, 50, of Columbus, is charged with Violation of Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act Schedule I MDMA/ecstasy, possession of drug related objects and Schedule II methamphetamine.

Police said they pulled over a vehicle around 9:15 p.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of Oates Avenue and 43rd Street for a tag light being out. Benton was a passenger in the vehicle, Cpl. Jacob Cook testified in court.

Cook said after running Benton’s license, he discovered she had a warrant out for her arrest for false information. The driver gave consent to search the vehicle and officers found 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, four doses of MDMA (or ecstasy) and three syringes with methamphetamine residue.

Benton claimed the drugs as her own, police said.

The driver was given a written warning for the tag light being out, Cook said.

Judge Mary Buckner set bond at $5,250 and the case was bound over to Superior Court.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Woman faces drug charges after police pulled over car for busted tag light."