Hiawassee Man Arrested In Clay County

On 08/29/23 at 10:01 PM Clay County Sgt Tyler Faggard initiated a traffic stop for a Dodge Dakota near the “High Bridge” on NC Hwy 175 in Hayesville. At this time Sgt Faggard noted a clear baggy being thrown out of the passenger window of the truck, landing in the roadway. Sgt Faggard knew this to be a tactic of people in possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia to avoid being caught in possession of them. Sgt Faggard radioed Clay County Sgt Steven Smith, who was close behind, to pick up the baggy laying in the roadway.

After stopping the truck, Sgt Faggard found the driver to be Haily Rae Ann Akins, 25 years of age from Marble. Akins had a suspended driver’s license. The front passenger of the truck was found to be Eugene Joshua Ashe, 43 years of age from Hiawassee, GA. Richard Alan Wallace, 43 years of age from Hayesville was found to have been a passenger in the rear seat of the truck. Sgt Smith soon arrived the location of the traffic stop with the clear baggy containing a powder like substance. This substance field tested positive for Fentanyl. A further search of the truck did not yield any additional contraband.

During field interviews with all three individuals found within the truck, it was learned that Ashe had actually thrown the baggy containing Fentanyl out of the window. Ashe was arrested for Felony Possession of Fentanyl which is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Ashe was transported to the Clay County Jail and placed under a $6,000 secured bond. Since neither Akins or Wallace had valid driver’s licenses, the Dodge truck was towed from the scene.

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