Marsha Powell

Name:
Powell, Marsha Dianne

Date of Booking:
08/11/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Drugs to be kept in original container

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance

Possession of Methamphetamine

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on August 11, 2026]

On 08/11/2026 at approximately 1025 hours, I was on patrol in the area of University Parkway and McCarty Rd. I observed a silver Honda Civic bearing a GA tag [REDACTED] traveling Westbound on University Parkway. I observed that the vehicle’s windshield was cracked. Based on this observation, I decided to conduct a traffic stop. As I attempted to catch up to the vehicle, I observed it weaving within its lane of travel, veering off towards the fog line.

I initiated a traffic stop by activating the blue lights on my patrol vehicle near the intersection of University Parkway and Hog Mountain Rd. Once the vehicle came to a stop, I got out of my patrol vehicle and approached the passenger side, where I met the driver, Marsha Powell. I explained the reason for the stop and asked for her driver’s license, which she provided. While speaking to Marsha, I observed that she was sweating profusely, her face was heavy and drowsy, her pupils were constricted, her eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and her speech was slurred.

I requested an additional unit and asked Marsha to step out of the vehicle, and she complied. While in front of my patrol vehicle, I asked Marsha if there were any drugs inside the vehicle, and she stated there were no drugs in the vehicle. I asked Marsha if she had any drugs concealed on her person, and she stated that she did not. I asked Marsha if I could search her vehicle for drugs, and she agreed. I walked back to my patrol vehicle and began writing Marsha a warning for the windshield violation while I waited for an additional unit. Once Deputy Daniels and Statham Police Corporal Knight arrived, I handed Marsha a written warning along with her driver’s license.

Deputy Daniels and I began conducting a consensual search of the vehicle, while Corporal Knight performed a consensual search of Marsha’s person. During the search, Knight told me she located an [REDACTED BY AGENCY] pill with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] engraved [REDACTED BY AGENCY] later weighed), which I identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] concealed inside Marsha’s bra.

Marsha stated that she had a prescription inside the vehicle for the [REDACTED BY AGENCY] which was not located within the vehicle. During the search, Deputy Daniels eventually located a small plastic bag containing a white crystal-like residue and a small glass container in the trunk. Inside the small glass container, I located [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (later weighed) of a white, crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine. For more information regarding the search, please refer to Deputy Daniels’ case supplemental report.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, I asked Marsha if she was willing to participate in field sobriety exercises to determine if she was okay to drive, and she agreed. I asked Marsha if she had taken any drugs, and she stated that she had a [REDACTED BY AGENCY] the night before. I asked Marsha if he had taken any other drugs or medication, and she stated that she had not.

I asked Marsha if she had any medical conditions that would prevent her from standing, walking, or turning, and she stated no. I asked Marsha if she was wearing eye contacts, and she stated that she was not.

I told Marsha to stand with her feet together and her hands down at her side. I told Marsha to stay in that position while I explained what she needed to do. I asked Marsha to look forward and not move her head. I told Marsha to follow the tip of my pen with her eyes only. I asked Marsha if she understood, and she stated that she did.

I checked for equal pupil size and detected it. I checked for resting nystagmus but did not detect it. I checked for equal tracking and detected it. I checked for lack of smooth pursuit and detected it in both eyes. I checked for distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation and detected it. I checked for the angle of onset of nystagmus and detected it. I checked for vertical nystagmus and did not detect it. I observed 6 out of 6 clues.

I told Marsha to stay in that position and told her I was going to circle her face with my pen. I told him to follow the pen with both eyes. I told Marsha that I would bring it towards her nose, and she was to follow it with both eyes. I told Marsha that if she needed to cross her eyes, that was okay. I asked Marsha if she understood, and she stated that she did.

I checked for lack of convergence and detected it. Her left eye would converge as her right eye would shoot out towards the right. I told Marsha to stand with her feet together and her hands down at her side. I told Marsha to stay in that position while I explained what she needed to do. I told Marsha that when instructed, she was to lean her head back and close her eyes. I told Marsha that when I told her to begin, she was to estimate the passage of 30 seconds. I told Marsha that when she thought 30 seconds had elapsed, she had to open her eyes and say stop. I asked Marsha if she understood, and she stated that she did. I told Marsha to lean her head back and close her eyes. I told her to begin.

Marsha estimated 30 seconds in 26 actual seconds. I observed that Marsha had body tremors, eyelid tremors, and a sway.

I showed Marsha a straight line and asked him to place her left foot on it. I told Marsha to place her right foot in front of it, heel-to-toe. I told Marsha to keep her hands at her side and demonstrated. I told Marsha to stand in that position while I demonstrated the nine-step walk-and-turn evaluation and not to begin until told to do so. I asked if she understood, and she stated that she did. I demonstrated how Marsha was to take nine heel-to-toe steps, remaining on the line. I explained that on the ninth step, Marsha was to keep her lead foot on the line and turn around with a series of small steps with her rear foot. I explained that Marsha was then to return nine heel-to-toe steps. I explained that she was to look at her feet, count her steps aloud, and keep her hands at her sides. I explained that once Marsha began, she was not to stop until she completed. I asked Marsha if she understood, and she stated that she did. I told Marsha to begin.

During the instructional phase.
Marsha started walking too soon, lost balance, and was told to get back in position.

During the walking phase.
On the first 9 heel-to-toe steps, Marsha missed heel-to-toe by more than ½ inch, stepped off line, used her arms for balance, and made an improper turn, not as instructed.

On the second 9 heel-to-toe steps, Marsha stepped off line and used her arms for balance.
I observed 6 out of 8 clues.

I told Marsha to stand with her feet together and her hands at her sides, and she complied. I told Marsha I was going to demonstrate the one-leg stand evaluation. I told Marsha not to begin until told to do so. I asked if she understood, and she stated that she did. I demonstrated how Marsha was to lift a foot of her choice approximately six inches off the ground and point it parallel to the ground. I explained that she was to keep both legs straight and keep her hands at her sides. I told Marsha to look at the raised foot and count aloud as follows: 1001, 1002, 1003, etc., until told to stop. I asked Marsha if she understood, and she stated that she did. I told Marsha to begin.

Marsha put her foot down, used her arms for balance, and swayed. I observed 3 out of 4 clues.

I retrieved a portable breath tester, and Marsha provided a breath sample that was negative for the presence of alcohol (BAC .000%). Based on the totality of the circumstances, I decided to place Marsha under arrest. I placed Marsha under arrest in a set of handcuffs to the front of her body. I read Marsha the Implied Consent notice for individuals aged 21 and over and asked if she would take the state-administered blood test. Marsha agreed by stating yes.

I then read Marsha her Miranda rights, asked if she understood, and if with those rights in mind she wished to speak to me without an attorney present, and she agreed by stating yes.

I asked Marsha what was in the small glass container, and she stated that it was exactly what I thought it was. I asked Marsha if it was methamphetamine, and she stated that it was. Marsha stated that she picked up the bag from a female by the name of [REDACTED] from Butterfly Ln.

The vehicle was eventually turned over to a family member per Marsha’s request without further incident.

I secured Marsha in the back seat of my patrol car and fastened the seatbelt. I transported Marsha to NE GA Barrow Hospital, where Marsha provided a blood sample that was drawn by a lab tech on duty. The tech sealed the GBI DUI blood kit.

I transported Marsha to the Barrow County Detention Center, where she was turned over to Detention Staff without further incident. The back seat of my patrol vehicle was searched before and after transport with no contraband located.

I obtained warrants for Marsha for the following violations.

Possession of meth. When during a probable cause search of Marsha’s vehicle, a silver Honda Accord bearing GA tag [REDACTED], Deputy Daniels located a small glass container in the vehicle’s trunk. Inside the glass container, I located [REDACTED BY AGENCY] of a white, crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

Possession of a scheduled II controlled substance. When during a consensual search of Marsha’s clothing, Statham Police Officer Knight located an [REDACTED BY AGENCY] pill with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] engraved on it, suspected to be [REDACTED BY AGENCY] inside Marsha’s bra.

D.U.I-Drugs. When Marsha was impaired and under the influence of drugs at the time she operated her motor vehicle, a silver Honda Accord bearing GA tag [REDACTED].

Drugs to be kept in original container. When during a consensual search of Marsha’s clothing, Statham Police Officer Knight located an [REDACTED BY AGENCY] pill with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] engraved on it, suspected to be [REDACTED BY AGENCY] inside Marsha’s bra, which was not in its original container.

The GBI blood kit along with the contraband was turned into evidence at the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office without further incident.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on August 11, 2026]

On August 11, 2026, at approximately 1031 hours, I responded “code 1” (non-emergent) to the area of University Parkway westbound and Hog Mountain Road in reference to Deputy Arango (S-181) requesting a second unit.

Upon arrival, I assisted Deputy Arango. Throughout the duration of the traffic stop the driver identified as Marsha Powell gave consent to search the vehicle in her possession she was operating along with voluntarily conducting fields as Deputy Arango believed she was driving under the influence. While I searched the passenger side of the vehicle yielding no contraband, Officer Knight (506) with Statham Police Department responded to the scene at the request of Deputy Arango.

After Officer Knight performed a pat down search of Marsha, Deputy Arango then conducted voluntarily standardized field sobriety exercises. During this process, I directed traffic. Once completed I then searched the trunk of the vehicle. While searching the trunk area of the vehicle, I found in a duffel bag a black makeup pouch. Inside the black makeup pouch, I discovered a white powdery substance suspected to be methamphetamine in what appeared to be a clear vile container that was turned over to Deputy Arango.

Marsha was placed under arrest and transported to the Barrow County Detention Center by Deputy Arango, while I waited for her friend [REDACTED] to come and take possession of the vehicle.

[End of Narrative]