Traffic Stop Leads To Four Arrests In Clay County

Press Release

On 04/29/25 at 6:37 PM Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard and Investigator Nick Queen were searching the area of US Highway 64 east for a black Chevrolet Tahoe occupied by Thomas Daniel Ware, 48 years of age from Murphy. Union County, GA Narcotics Agents had provided information that Ware had purchased drugs in Union County and would be in the Tahoe.

Ware also had outstanding warrants for his arrest for Breaking or Entering & Larceny and Absconding from Probation.

The Tahoe was located at the Dollar General store on Highway 64 east. Lt. Faggard and Investigator Queen noted Ware to exit the Tahoe, go into the store, and return a short time later. The Tahoe then left the store and began traveling east on Highway 64. It was stopped by Lt. Faggard and Investigator Queen at the intersection of US 64 and NC 175. The driver was found to be Amanda Mary King, 37 years of age from Murphy. The front passenger was Janet Harris Shields, 56 years of age from Hayesville. The drivers’ side rear passenger was found to be Nathan Allen Lemay, 52 years of age from Hayesville. Ware was found to be seated in the passenger side rear seat of the Tahoe.

Arriving to assist during this investigation were Clay County Officer Aly Daniel, Officer Drew Judge, Investigator Steven Smith, and Sheriff Mark Buchanan. All the occupants were detained, removed from the vehicle, and thoroughly searched along with the Tahoe. As Ware was being detained, he said there were “rigs” or hypodermic syringes on his person and in the vehicle. A glass smoking device with suspected methamphetamine residue was found within King’s purse. A baggy containing 32 grams of a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine was found within one of Ware’s shoes. All four occupants of the Tahoe were arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center.  Just prior to entering the Clay County Detention Center, Lemay said he had a “rig”, used for methamphetamine, that was stuck within his sock.

King was charged with felony Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and issued a $25,000 secured bond for her release. Shields was charged with felony Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine and was placed on a 48 hour hold prior to a bond being issued due to already being out on drug related charges in Georgia. Lemay was charged with felony Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and placed on a 48 hour hold prior to a bond being issued due to being on probation. Ware was charged with 2 counts of felony Trafficking Methamphetamine and served with the previously mentioned outstanding warrants for his arrest. Ware was placed on a 48 hour hold prior to a bond being issued due to already being on probation, being an absconder from probation, and being on pretrial release from another charge.

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