Florida Woman Busted For Meth Possession Claims “THAT’S NOT MINE!”
23-year-old Tera Upton, a Florida woman of Ponce De Leon, Florida ran afoul with the law in DeFuniak Springs when sheriff’s deputies offered her a ride. What started off as a calm interaction and an offer to help ended up in a series of infractions including meth possession and obstruction. But let’s back up.
Early Thursday morning, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 6000 block of County Highway 183 S in DeFuniak Springs, Florida to a suspicious incident. The caller reported a woman knocked on her door and fled when warned law enforcement would be called.
When the deputy arrived, they found 23-year-old Tera Upton, of Ponce De Leon walking in the area. When questioned, Upton claimed she had been staying with a friend and got lost.
An Offer To Help Turns Into An Arrest For Meth Possession
The deputy offered her a ride but explained they would have to search her before letting her inside the patrol car. So it was just an offer Tera could have left, but she didn’t. Upton consented to a search and removed a wallet, knife, lighter, and a snack cake from her pocket. (The report did not specify the type of snack cake).
While performing a search of the items, three individual bags of methamphetamine were located inside the wallet. When she saw the bags, Tera Upton yelled, “That’s not mine!”
And Here’s Where It All Goes Wrong For The Florida Woman
When the deputy attempted to put Upton into handcuffs, she fled toward the fence line of a nearby cemetery. The deputy warned Upton she would be tased if she did not comply, so Upton fell to the ground. The deputy tried multiple times to put her into handcuffs, but Upton continued not to comply. So it had to happen.
Tera Upton was subsequently tased and placed into custody. She is charged with obstruction and possession of methamphetamine. The simple truth is, it would have gone much easier on her if she didn’t try to escape. Cops don’t want to have to run after you. This is the same department that once had kids wash the patrol cars instead of criminal charges. So the meth possession could’ve been diversion rather than incarceration.
She received a $5,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.