Wanted Woman Charged With Possession of Meth in School Zone

By Jessie Williams

A Lafayette woman with active warrants was arrested near Central Elementary School last week while in possession of methamphetamine. 

 The affidavit of complaint filed by Patrolman Jason Sells, of the Lafayette Police Department, states that he received information that 39-year-old Joyce Dean Patterson had been on Central Elementary School property.

Patterson had two active warrants on file at the Macon County Sheriff’s Department for violating her probation and attachment. 

Officer Sells was contacted later in the day and told Patterson was back on school property and given a description of the vehicle she was in. 

Upon arriving at the school, the officer identified Patterson as a passenger in a black, Chevy vehicle. 

After initiating a traffic stop, Patterson allegedly acknowledged she had active warrants out for her arrest and said she had been hiding out. She also admitted to be in the possession of methamphetamine. 

Approximately 2.05 grams, in three separate baggies, was seized and field tested positive for meth. 

Patterson was taken into custody and charged with attachment, violation of probation (2 counts), possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacture/delivery/possession of meth and drug free school zone violation. 

Her bond was set at $22,000, and she is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on April 17 and June 19. She is also scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court for the attachment charge on April 25, 2019.