A Johnson City woman is facing multiple charges after police said she tried to smuggle drugs into jail after being arrested following a car wreck.
Paula Dean Nave, 31, 214 Hopson Road, Johnson City, was arrested Tuesday night by Carter County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Nick Andes and charged with second offense driving under the influence, introduction of contraband into a penal facility and three counts of possession of Schedule IV drugs.
Andes reported he first encountered Nave after responding to a wreck on Dennis Cove Road where a vehicle had driven off an embankment. As he arrived at the scene, he observed members of the Carter County Rescue Squad and Hampton Volunteer Fire Department attempting to rescue a female driver from the vehicle.
The driver, who was later identified as Nave, was checked at the scene by emergency medical personnel but reported she was not injured.
Andes said when he spoke to Nave about the crash, he noticed she had slurred speech, was unsteady on her feet, her eyes were red and glassy and she had the odor of an alcoholic beverage about her person.
Andes said he asked Nave to perform a series of field sobriety tests, and reported she performed “unsatisfactorily” on all the tests.
Nave was then placed under arrest and taken to the Carter County Detention Center. Andes said that when she arrived at the jail, Nave asked to use the restroom.
Andes said “per standard operating procedure” a female corrections officer, Erica Huskins, escorted Nave to the restroom. Upon exiting the restroom, Andes said the corrections officer told him Nave appeared to be trying to conceal something.
“I then asked Ms. Nave several times if she had anything hidden on or in her person and she advised ‘no’ several times,” Andes said. “Upon Ms. Nave’s shower and dressing out Officer Huskins observed an orange pill bottle in Ms. Nave’s underwear.”
The bottle was retrieved and turned over to Andes, who said the bottle contained 11 Clonazepam pills, two Suboxone strips, and seven Alprazolam pills, all of which are Schedule IV controlled substances.
Andes said a check of Nave’s driving history showed she had a prior conviction for driving under the influence in 2005.
Nave was then charged with second offense DUI, introduction of contraband into a penal facility and three counts of possession of Schedule IV drugs.