Clay County Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

On April 11, 2025, a routine traffic stop in Clay County resulted in the arrest of Amanda Rene Locklear, 31, of Hiawassee, Georgia, on felony drug charges. The incident began at 3:07 PM when Clay County Investigator Nick Queen observed a blue Nissan Altima driven by Travis Franklin Thurmond, 53, of Hayesville, with an invalid license plate. Queen was also aware that Thurmond lacked a valid driver’s license.

According to authorities, Thurmond pulled into a Dollar General Store near Ledford Chapel Road, where he met with several individuals known to Investigator Queen. After the meeting, Thurmond drove west on US Hwy 64 and was stopped by Queen at the Downings Creek Road intersection. Locklear was identified as a passenger in the vehicle.

Additional officers, including Clay County Sgt. Will Suggs, Officer Zack Raxter, Investigator Steven Smith with a K-9 unit, and a North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent, arrived to assist. A search of the vehicle and its occupants uncovered drug paraphernalia, including a syringe in Thurmond’s coat pocket, as well as aluminum foil, cotton, and a large syringe in the vehicle, items commonly associated with injecting controlled substances.

Locklear was found to be concealing two airlock bags under her shirt. One bag contained 18.8 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, classified as a highly serious controlled substance akin to heroin. The other bag held two suspected marijuana joints.

Thurmond received a verbal warning for his traffic violations and was not charged in connection with the drug findings. Locklear, however, was arrested and charged with felony possession of psilocybin mushrooms and felony maintaining a vehicle or place to keep drugs. She was transported to the Clay County Detention Center, where she was given a $10,000 secured bond for her release.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.