Nakia Powell.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Christmas Eve delivery of marijuana, tobacco and a cell phone didn’t reach its intended recipient at Colquitt County Jail, and now the would-be Santa is himself behind bars.

“A package was thrown at the jail fence” on Christmas Eve, said Sgt. Channing McDowell of the Moultrie Colquitt County Drug Enforcement Team. “Jail staff found it.”

The package contained marijuana, tobacco, a cell phone and a charger, he said.

“We checked the cameras and identified a suspect,” McDowell said.

That suspect, Marlyn Jermaine Spradley, admitted to throwing the package into the jail facility, he said.

Spradley, 37, 1149 Ninth Ave. N.W., was arrested on Tuesday and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

A Colquitt County Magistrate Court judge denied bail for Spradley in his initial court appearance.

Traffic stop finds meth in automobile

In an unrelated incident, a traffic stop of a Meigs man suspected in a meth-sale case resulted in his arrest and also that of a passenger.

Police stopped a Ford Edge driven by Freddie Lee Smithwick III at about 11:30 a.m. Jan. 10 on Industrial Drive, said Sgt. Justin Lindsay, also with the drug team.

“He was observed selling drugs in the Home Depot parking lot,” Lindsay said.

Smithwick pulled to the side of the road for a deputy in a marked patrol car, Lindsay said, but “upon seeing drug agents he attempted to flee in the vehicle. We were able to block the car (from leaving).”

When police took Smithwick into custody, a search also turned up suspected methamphetamine packaged as it normally would be for sale, Lindsay said, as well as a small amount of marijuana.

In addition to the meth-sale charge Smithwick, 40, 3760 Stagecoach Road, Meigs, was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, use of a communication facility in committing a felony and possession of marijuana.

April Lynn Wilcox, 34, 127 S. Manning St., Funston, also was arrested at the scene of the traffic stop and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana. Wilcox was a passenger in the back seat of the car.

“April was found to be in possession of meth packaged for sale and marijuana was found on her as well,” Lindsay said.

Fleeing suspect throws stolen gun

In a separate case on Jan. 10 officers arrested Nakia Powell while patrolling in an area where drug sales had been reported. Police encountered Powell at about 4:30 p.m.

“He was found to be in the parking lot at Paradise apartments,” Lindsay said. “We had received several complaints of drug activity (occurring) in the parking lot and breezeways.”

Powell ran from officers when they approached, Lindsay said.

“While he was running he pulled a .380 handgun from his pants or waistband and threw it,” Lindsay said.

Officers caught up with Powell and also recovered the pistol, which a check revealed had been reported stolen to the Albany Police Department. During a search of Powell officers found a straw with suspected cocaine residue on it, Lindsay said.

Powell, 23, 1109 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, was charged with possession of cocaine, obstruction of a police officer, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and probation violation.