Woman Arrested For DUI, Leads To More Charges

Newport police were sent to the Motel 6 over the weekend in regards to a female slumped over behind the steering wheel of a vehicle. Upon arrival they found 35 year old Melia Hall passed out with the front of her car up on the sidewalk and the car still in drive. Hall was arrested at the time for driving under the influence. However, that would not be the end of her charges. Upon arrival at the jail, Hall was searched and narcotics were found on her person. Corrections officer Leseanda Hembree stated that she observed Hall attempting to conceal both in her hand and in her pockets a bag of unknown powdery substance. Officer Hembree recovered the bag from Ms. Hall’s back pocket. After touching the substance Hembree stated she began to feel dizzy and an ambulance had to be called to the jail for medical evaluation. The substance turned out to be Carfentanil. That is an opioid analgesic which is used in veterinary medicine to anesthetize large animals such as elephants. It has been used as a recreational drug and overdose deaths have happened from it. Hall has been charged with introduction into a penal facility and aggravated assault.