Woman pleads not guity to drug possession

Published 6:43 am Friday, March 19, 2010

An Austin woman who allegedly dropped a bag of cocaine near authorities while dealing with an apartment fire two weeks ago plead not guilty to felony fifth-degree drug possession Thursday.

According to a police report, police officers and firefighters arrived at the Austin apartment of Pamela Susan Peters, 23, at around 10 p.m. Saturday, March 6. With the large amount of smoke coming from Peters’ room, the rest of the tenants were evacuated temporarily.

No one responded to a knock on the unit’s door, so firefighters broke in.

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They found no fire source, instead linking the smoke back to burnt food, the report states.

Peters was called to the apartment while firefighters were inside. She said someone had been staying with her and probably left something cooking before leaving. Peters said she had left the apartment and her guest about eight hours earlier.

While Peters checked the residence with authorities, an officer noticed her drop a small bag of cocaine on the floor, according to a criminal complaint. Peters, who was also wanted on a Freeborn County warrant for a pervious allegation, was arrested for the alleged drug possession. She denied knowledge of the cocaine, the complaint states.

No residents of the apartment complex were injured during the incident, and they were able to return to their rooms shortly after firefighters responded.

According to records, Peters has a prior felony drug conviction from October 2009.

She is scheduled for a pre-trial on June 11.