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Arrest stems after a traffic stop

Three Pennsylvania residents and one North Carolina resident were arrested on several drug charges March 10, according to the Atmore Police Department.

Public Information Officer Sgt. Darrell McMann said in a release that Edward Lowe, 21, of Erie, Pa., was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), receiving stolen property II, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempting to elude; Alyssa Mancuso, 28, of Erie, was charged with possession with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana I, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance (meth) and possession of a controlled substance (heroin); Samantha Little, 28, of Hendersonville, N.C., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana I and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and Jahmal Arnold, 30, of Erie, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana I and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

McMann said the arrest occurred after an APD officer initiated a traffic top on a vehicle in reference to speeding at approximately 3:10 p.m. on March 10.

“As the vehicle came to a stop in Tom Byrne Park, one of the occupants in the back seat, later identified as Edward Lowe, 21, of Erie, jumped from the vehicle and fled,” McMann said. “Lowe was carrying a bag and ran into the woods.”

McMann said the bag Lowe was seen with was recovered just inside the wood line and he was taken into custody a short time later in a nearby parking lot.

“The bag contained three stolen handguns, and an unspecified amount of a green leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana,” he said.

McMann said additional officers responded to the scene to assist.

“Due to the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, the officers removed the occupants from the vehicle and conducted a search,” he said. “During the search of the vehicle officers discovered a large plastic bag that contained an unspecified amount of a green leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana. Also discovered in the vehicle was a scale, marijuana grinder, a straw that contained a white crystal like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, aluminum foil that contained a brown residue that field tested positive for heroin, a bag containing a white crystal like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, and a hypodermic needle with an substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.”

Lowe, Mancuso, Little and Arnold were then transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.