On July 30, 2024, at approximately 1:23 a.m., a Des Moines County Deputy stopped a vehicle west bound on Mt Pleasant St. for an abnormally loud exhaust and muffler not properly attached. The driver was identified as Michelle Blakley, age 59, of West Burlington. During the traffic stop, a Des Moines County K-9 Unit conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the odor of narcotics.
Deputies then searched the vehicle, locating marijuana, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, and prescription medications. Blakley was placed under arrest, and during the transport Blakley indicated that she had additional narcotics on her person. Once at the jail, a crystal-like substance, later field tested to be methamphetamine, was located on Blakley. Blakley was charged with 3 counts of possession of a controlled substance- 2nd or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.