North Liberty residents arrested after traffic stop, drugs found in home

NORTH LIBERTY - Three people face multiple charges after an attempted traffic stop led officers to a home in North Liberty where various drugs were found.

According to North Liberty police criminal complaints, around 10:31 p.m. Oct. 24, a North Liberty police officer attempted to pull over Jahmil B. Thomas, 23, when a check on his license plate showed his license was barred. Police said after the officer turned around and caught up with Thomas, Thomas fled from his Honda Civic and ran through the woods to avoid capture.

Police towed the Civic and, while conducting an inventory of the vehicle, discovered two plastic bags containing 1/8 ounce of cocaine. Thomas was identified as the driver of the Civic using booking photos and he was found the following day at his home at 647 Hodge St. in North Liberty, when police executed a search warrant there.

But, Thomas wasn't all authorities found when they served the warrant, police said.

Police said they found prescription drugs, LSD, marijuana and cocaine in a bedroom used by Jabril R.K. Scott, 27, and Danica E. Packingham, 29. Drugs also were found in the kitchen of the home, including a plastic bag containing a substance Packingham said was 'Molly,” the street name for MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Packingham allegedly told police she found the MDMA at work.

Authorities said a 6-year-old child also sleeps on a mattress in the same bedroom as Scott and Packingham, in proximity to where the drugs were found.

All three residents were arrested. Thomas faces charges of controlled substance violation, a felony; driving while barred, an aggravated misdemeanor; and interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor. Scott faces four counts of possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor; and one count of child endangerment without injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. Packingham faces five counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of child endangerment.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com