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Bay County man arrested during traffic stop


A Monday morning traffic stop landed a Bay County man behind bars in Washington County on a Bay County warrant as well as charges in Washington County.

On Feb.21, a Washington County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy was patrolling in the area of Highway 77 and Pine Log Road when he conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle traveling south on Highway 77.

A license check of the driver James Matthew Harris, found outstanding warrants out of Bay County for grand theft auto. While speaking with Harris the deputy observed what appeared to drug paraphernalia on the center console. According to WCSO, Harris told the deputy the paraphernalia contained a substance like Suboxone, which was packaged to be concealed. WCSO says Harris also told the deputy he knew he was going to jail for the warrant and that he intended to hide the medicine inside of his person in order to have it for when he went into withdrawal while incarcerated.

WCSO stated more illegal narcotics packaged for sale were found during the stop along with paraphernalia.

Harris is being held on the Bay County warrant and is also facing local charges with more charges pending.