St. Maries woman arrested

A 21-year-old St. Maries woman was arrested Sunday night after a Spokane Valley officer found her in possession of methamphetamine and carrying a loaded pistol without a permit.

Brenna Ann Haynes was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended and unlawful carrying of a firearm.

Officer Juan Rodriguez was patrolling the area of Sprague and McDonald Road when he noticed Haynes failed to properly signal a turn in the 1993 Mercury Cougar she was driving, according to police reports.

During the traffic stop at a parking lot, Haynes told Rodriguez that her driver's license might be suspended, and it was, the report states. He arrested her for the traffic misdemeanor.

She then told the officer she had a syringe and a baggie of drugs in her pocket, the report states.

Rodriguez asked Haynes if he could search her car and she told him she had tossed the keys inside and then locked the doors. She added that he might be able to see the pistol stuffed between the front seats.

Rodriguez learned that Haynes had no concealed weapon permit. The car was impounded.

After obtaining a search warrant for the car, Rodriguez removed the Smith and Wesson .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The magazine was loaded with 13 bullets and there was a second magazine on the back seat that contained another 13 bullets.

Rodriguez also found a marijuana bong, a marijuana pipe, a digital scale and weights, and MSM, a horse supplement used to add weight to methamphetamine packaged for sale because it has a similar appearance.