Traffic Stop in Clay County Leads to Methamphetamine Arrest

On April 21, 2025, a routine traffic stop in Clay County resulted in the arrest of a Robbinsville man for felony possession of methamphetamine. Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard and Officer Brandon Coker pulled over a red Chevrolet truck at the intersection of US Hwy 64 West and Lance Cove Road at 6:59 PM due to faulty truck and trailer lights.

The driver, Ray Keith Elliott, 50, of Robbinsville, admitted to possessing a “meth pipe” when questioned by Lt. Faggard about illegal items in the vehicle. Elliott retrieved the pipe from a cup holder and handed it to the officer. A subsequent search of Elliott revealed a small clear bag containing a crystal-like substance in his front pocket, which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Clay County Investigator Steven Smith and Officer Sean Stout assisted at the scene, detaining Elliott and the passenger, Billy Lane, also of Robbinsville. A thorough search of the truck uncovered no additional contraband.

A background check through the FBI’s National Crime Information Center revealed an outstanding warrant for Lane in Georgia, though the issuing agency declined to extradite him for the low-level charge.

Elliott was arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center, where he was held without bond for 48 hours due to a prior bond related to another crime.