Traffic stop leads to arrest of two area women on drug and weapons charges

Hunter
09/07/21

Two area women were taken into custody early Tuesday after a traffic stop allegedly found them in possession of firearms and drugs.

Police stopped 28-year-old Taneka Clark of Savannah Drive in North Liberty  after exceeding the speed limit near Highway 6 and Keokuk Street. Upon contact, officers allegedly detected the odor of ingested alcohol coming from her and her passenger, 22-year-old Eva Linklater of 5th Street in Coralville. Both Linklater and Clark denied drinking, possessing any drugs or having any firearms.

A K9 alerted to drugs in the vehicle, and during a probable cause search, police allegedly found two open alcoholic beverages in Linklater’s possession. She also had a Smith and Wesson firearm on her hip that was chambered with one round and with five additional rounds in a magazine. Police also reportedly found two Vyvanse pills in her purse.

A PBT showed Linklater within the legal limit of blood-alcohol percentage, but she did submit to a urine sample that tested presumptively for MDMA and methamphetamine. She reportedly admitted to using MDMA.

As for Clark, a probable cause search of her purse turned up a little over a half gram of loose marijuana, and two additional firearms were found in her 2017 Ford Escape that Clark admitted were hers.

Linklater was initially charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon while Intoxicated. She faces up to two years in jail if convicted on both counts.

Clark was charged with Marijuana possession and Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons; she also faces up to two years in jail if convicted.