by Emily Waldrep

Two women were arrested and charged with multiple drug charges after attempting to hide drug evidence in the back of a police car.

According to Captain Mike McCulley of the Woodville Police Department, Sergeant Hicks of the Woodville Police Department was on patrol Sunday night at 6 p.m. when he observed a driver make a minor traffic violation.

"Hicks made contact with the driver, identified as Jennie McCoy, age 30 of Troup and discovered that she did not have a valid drivers license. She also displayed signs of intoxication," McCulley said.

According to McCulley, Hicks observed several opened containers of alcohol in the vehicle. He asked McCoy to step out of the vehicle to continue the interview. There was also a passenger in the vehicle, identified as Angel Osteen, age 34, of Troup.

"Both driver and passenger had been drinking and were questioned in more detail about what they were doing. They told Hicks they were passing through and trying to find somewhere to stay for the night," McCulley said. "While speaking to them Hicks also noticed that there was evidence of marijuana in the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed that there were several items in a blue bag, including synthetic marijuana, rolled cigarettes, and a wooden box that contained partially smoked cigarettes. Hicks also found a camouflage purse that contained two glass pipes that are typically used for smoking narcotics such as methamphetamine or cocaine and a small electronic scale that is typically used to measure drugs."

The two women were then arrested for invalid driver's license and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sergeant Calhoun was called to assist in the transporting McCoy and Osteen, but the defendants still had narcotics and attempted to hide them inside of the police car.

"Sergeant Calhoun notified Hicks that the two women attempted to hide additional drug evidence in the backseat of the patrol car," McCulley said. "The evidence was found to be a paper like substance that had methamphetamine liquid residue on it. The paper hidden in the seat appeared to be chewed by one of the defendants."

McCulley says that when Calhoun reviewed his camera footage from the backseat of the patrol vehicle he determined that one of the subjects had chewed the paper items and attempted to spit it into the other subject's mouth. The second woman then attempted to hide the paper in the seat.

"As a result of the video evidence, the two defendants were also charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1, and tampering with evidence, which are both felonies," McCulley said. "Osteen was also charged with possession of prohibited substance in a correctional facility after she was found to have addition drug evidence on her person after she was booked into jail."

Jennie McCoy was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2, Tamper or Fabrication of Physical Evidence with the Intent to Impair, No drivers license, and Possession of drug Paraphernalia.

Angel Osteen was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2, Tamper of Fabrication of Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility, Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 and Allowing an Unlisted Driver to Operate Motor Vehicle.

Osteen and McCoy remain in custody and are currently awaiting bond amounts.