Separate Traffic Stops Lead to Multiple Arrests in Clay County

Clay County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

On 12/02/25 around 8:00 PM Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard, Investigator Steven Smith, Investigator Brandon Coker, and Officer Sean Stout stopped a blue Ford Edge near the intersection of NC Hwy 175 and Jack Rabbit Road in Hayesville. This vehicle was known to be driven by Richard Frederick Willis, 38 years of age from Hayesville, who had a suspended driver’s license. The vehicle was also found to have an expired registration plate.

Willis was found to be driving the vehicle when it stopped. Eugene Joshua Ashe, 45 years of age from Hayesville, was found seated in the rear passenger side seat. Ashe was known to have a felony probation violation warrant for his arrest out of Georgia and taken into custody without incident. Tia Nicole Shook, 31 years of age from Hayesville, was found seated in the front passenger seat. Hailey Raeann Akins, 28 years of age from Marble, was found seated in the rear driver’s side seat of the vehicle.

During this traffic stop Investigator Smith deployed his K-9, Luca, around the blue Ford Edge. Luca gave a positive alert for narcotics about the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted after this alert from Luca. In the immediate area where Atkins was seated, a piece of aluminum foil containing what was believed to be burned Fentanyl was found within Atkins’ purse. Atkins indicated she also had a smoking pipe in her bra and retrieved it for the on-scene Officers. The pipe contained a quantity of methamphetamine. A plastic straw with a white powdery reside was found in the door next to where Shook had been seated.

Akins was arrested and charged with felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was issued a $10,000 secured bond for her release. Ashe was arrested and subsequently released to Georgia authorities for further disposition as it pertained to his felony probation violation. Future charges for Willis for Driving While License Revoked, Driving With An Expired License Plate, and Maintaining a Vehicle For The Use of Drugs are pending.   

On 12/03/25 shortly before 4:00 PM, Clay County Investigator Steven Smith stopped a black GMC Yukon for traveling at a high rate of speed on Old US 64 West. The vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Pope Cove Road in Hayesville. The driver of the vehicle was found to have been Eric Esteban Rivera, 42 years of age from Hayesville. Rivera was known by Investigator Smith to have previously been in possession of and involved in the distribution of methamphetamine. Clay County Investigator Brandon Coker soon arrived to assist Investigator Smith. Investigator Smith deployed his K-9, Luca, around the Yukon. Luca gave a positive alert for illegal drugs.

The positive alert by Luca gave officers the needed “probable cause” to conduct a search of the vehicle and Rivera’s person. During a search of the vehicle, a black zipper bag was found in the center console containing a glass smoking pipe, a set of digital scales, a hypodermic syringe, and other miscellaneous items of drug paraphernalia. A small plastic baggy containing a white crystalline substance was found within Rivera’s right watch pocket of his pants. This substance fielded tested positive for methamphetamine.

Rivera was charged with felony Possession of Methamphetamine and felony Maintaining a Vehicle for Drugs. Due to Rivera already being out on a bond for Trafficking Methamphetamine, he was not given a bond for his release. 

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