OC Deputies arrest Drug Traffickers in Separate Incidents

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Anderson County woman and an Athens, Georgia man on drug trafficking charges Sunday in separate incidents in the county. Deputies arrested 34-year-old Tabitha Ann Hammond of 802 Anderson Street in Belton, SC and 57-year-old Timothy Charles Pinkham of 200 Georgetown Drive in Athens, GA and booked them into the Oconee County Detention Center, explains Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt. “Hammond was arrested as a result of an investigation by a deputy on routine patrol as she and another male were seen by that officer exiting the Timberlake Boat Ramp on Boat Ramp Road near Townville around 3am, which is after the boat ramp closes except for those who are fishing. As the investigation continued, Hammond told the deputy that she had some prescription pills in a bag as well as methamphetamine. The deputy discovered drug paraphernalia in the bag along with three large bags with a crystal like substance inside and a bag full of pills. Hammond admitted that the bag was hers. The male was issued a uniform traffic ticket on a drug paraphernalia charge due to drug paraphernalia found on his person and released as Hammond was transported to the Detention Center. The amount of meth discovered by the deputy was almost 50 grams. 25 Xanax were discovered also as well as $1,200 in cash in Hammond’s pocket book.” Hammond has been charged with trafficking in methamphetamine as well as possession of a controlled substance. The second and separate incident occurred early Sunday evening as a deputy on routine patrol noticed a vehicle on I-85 northbound near exit 2 with a broken headlight and a smashed windshield, adds Watt. “The vehicle exited off the interstate at exit 4 and then failed to stop as it turned left onto West Fairplay Boulevard. The deputy also observed the vehicle drive over the perimeter line three times. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and pulled the vehicle over. The deputy noticed the driver, Pinkham, had a glazed look in his eyes. Pinkham told the deputy that he had been taking Oxycodone while driving. A K-9 officer arrived on the scene and deployed his K-9, which detected the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, in which deputies found a bag of a clear crystal like substance in the cup holder of the center console along with drug paraphernalia. According to the deputy, over 15 grams of meth was found. Pinkham was taken to the detention center on a temporary custody order on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine.” Warrants were obtained Monday afternoon against Pinkham on those charges.