While patrolling on Browntown Road Tuesday evening, Cumberland County deputies conducted a routine traffic stop. The driver, 42-year-old Mark Christophe Brown of Sparta, stated his license had been revoked for non-payment of tickets. Deputies observed a needle on the  floor of the vehicle with a liquid inside it. When asked if he had anything illegal on his person or in the vehicle, Brown said no. The arrest report states that when a deputy asked what was in the needle lying on the floorboard of the car, Brown replied that it was meth, and confirmed the needle was his.

Both Brown and his passenger, 37-year-old Tonya Lane Davidson of Sparta, consented to a search. Davidson also denied having anything illegal on her, yet deputies found a loaded and uncapped syringe sticking out of the front of her jeans. According to the arrest report, when asked what was in the syringe, she admitted it was meth.

Brown and Davidson were strip searched at intake. Nothing further was found on Davidson, but authorities found a clear bag with a crystalline substance in the vicinity of Brown’s crotch that tested positive for meth; it weighed approximately 1.2 grams. The contents of the two needles also tested positive for meth.

Davidson was charged with possession of meth and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; she was placed under $2,000 bond. Brown was charged with possession of meth, felony possession of meth, introducing contraband into a penal institution, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a revoked license; he was placed under $22,500 bond. Both are due in court February 4.