Found with roughly 400 counterfeit Oxycodone pills
Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Nikia Thomas, left, and Jennifer Fernandez, were arrested and booked into jail on a slew of drug charges after allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign while driving.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A simple moving violation led to the seizure of multiple baggies of counterfeit Oxycodone pills and methamphetamine, and multiple drug charges against the male and female who were in the vehicle.
The driver, Jennifer Marie Fernandez, 36, of Safford, was charged with possession of a dangerous drug and possession of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a narcotic drug for sale, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, taking contraband into a correctional facility, and driving on a suspended license. The passenger, Nikia Lashon Thomas, 44, of Phoenix, was charged with possession of a dangerous drug and possession of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a narcotic drug for sale, transportation of a narcotic drug for sale, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Thomas also had a warrant for a DOC parole violation.
According to a Safford Police report, the couple was placed under arrest just before 3 a.m. on July 7 after Fernandez failed to stop at the stop sign at Entertainment Avenue and U.S. Highway 70. The officer followed the suspects’ gray Ford Fusion as it turned onto Pine Avenue and stopped in front of a residence. At that point, the officer activated his emergency lights to indicate a traffic stop.
At that time, the officer learned that Fernandez’s license was suspended for a previous DUI charge. Fernandez also allegedly advised that she was on probation for multiple felonies and had just gotten out of prison. The officer also learned that Thomas had a valid warrant for a DOC parole violation.
The officer then took Thomas into custody and during a search after his arrest located baggies in a black pouch that was in his back pocket. The baggies contained methamphetamine residue that reportedly had been scraped from pipes and meant for reuse.
While Fernandez did not consent to a search of the vehicle, due to her passenger’s arrest and her suspended license, the vehicle was impounded for 30 days and an inventory search was performed. At that time, an officer located a container in the center console that held multiple baggies of blue “M30” pills believed to be counterfeit Oxycodone (opiate) and multiple baggies of methamphetamine.
While en route to the jail, Thomas advised he had a meth pipe tucked into his waistband, and that was secured. Fernandez, however, did not notify the officers of an additional meth pipe and meth found hidden on her person during a search at the jail, hence the additional charge.
Both suspects were then booked into jail and the Ford Fusion was towed from the scene to be impounded.
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