In a routine traffic stop that quickly escalated, the Massachusetts State Police arrested a woman on drug trafficking charges. The suspect, identified as Kiana Mendes, 38, of Taunton, was apprehended with an array of illicit substances following a distracted driving incident, as reported by the Massachusetts State Police.

With her attention split between her phone and the road, Mendes was spotted by a State Trooper from the Troop D Community Action Team on April 22. The officer, patrolling the Taunton Green Rotary around 4:15 p.m., noted Mendes's use of a cell phone while steering her Chevrolet truck. A quick electronic check revealed the vehicle's registration was annulled, prompting the trooper to pull her over. Using his cruiser’s blue lights, the Trooper witnessed Mendes reaching around her vehicle's interior as it came to a halt, according to a statement by the Massachusetts State Police.

Further investigation revealed that Mendes's driver's license was suspended, adding to her troubles. She was promptly taken into custody, and a thorough inventory of her truck pre-towing turned up several items synonymous with drug distribution. After a K-9 unit search, authorities found 64 grams of a substance believed to be crack cocaine, assorted pills, cash, and suboxone strips hidden within the vehicle.

The subsequent booking of Mendes took place at State Police-Middleboro, and a bail commissioner set her bail at $5,000. The legal encumbrance of Mendes was hardly light, racking up multiple charges including trafficking in cocaine, possession of a Class B substance spanning six counts, and vehicular violations connected to her suspended personal and vehicle licenses, alongside respective uninsured status. Adding insult to injury, she was also cited for the initial infraction: using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle.