West Alexandria woman faces drug charges following Mercer County traffic stop

A West Alexandria woman is facing three drug-related charges following a traffic stop in Mercer County.

Katherine L. Collins has been charged in Mercer County Common Pleas Court with fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, second-degree misdemeanor possession of drug-abuse instruments and fourth-degree misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to an affidavit filed with the court, a Mercer County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a northbound vehicle at West Bank and Monroe roads shortly after 9 p.m. on July 12. The affidavit states the vehicle was traveling 72 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone.

Three people were reportedly inside the vehicle. During the stop, a K-9 was brought to the scene and allegedly alerted deputies to the presence of narcotics.

Deputies searched the vehicle and reportedly located a pink bag in the back seat that Collins said belonged to her. Court documents allege the bag contained syringes, pipes, plastic bags and other containers with suspected drug residue.

A field test performed on material found inside one of the bags allegedly returned a positive result for methamphetamine.

Collins was arrested and taken to the Mercer County Detention Facility. The complaint was filed July 13.

The charges are allegations, and Collins is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.