Traffic Stops Leads To Drug Charges in Hayesville

Clay County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

On 06/08/26 at 11:19 AM Clay County Lt. Investigator Brandon Coker stopped a white Dodge van with a Georgia license plate at the entrance to the United Community Bank in Hayesville. Lt. Coker noted that the driver of the van was not wearing his seat belt and the van’s signal light to be barely visible. 

The driver of the van was found to be Levis Wayne Gerrell, 52 years of age from Hiawassee. After checking Gerrell’s status through Clay County Dispatch, he was found to be wanted out of Cleveland, GA for felony Possession of a Dangerous Drug. During a consent search of the van, Lt. Coker found a glass water pipe typically used to ingest illegal substances in the driver’s side door compartment.

A field test of the pipe revealed it contained an amount of Methyl-phenethylamine, a schedule II controlled substance. Gerrell was arrested and charged with Maintaining A Vehicle For The Use Of Controlled Substances and Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. Gerrell was taken before Magistrate Dave West and issued a $20,000 secured bond for his release.    

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