SOUTH PORTLAND — South Portland police say a traffic stop for apparently fake inspection sticker led to a pair of drug arrests Tuesday.

Officer Scott Corbett was patrolling the Thornton Heights area and pulled over a car with an apparently fake inspection sticker driven by Sheryl Wallace, 45, of Portland. During the stop, he saw the male passenger, Dennis Splude, 55, of Portland, hiding something in his mouth.

Splude resisted a search and Wallace started to intervene but stopped when a citizen stopped to help, police said. Police found what they believe is crack cocaine in Splude’s mouth. He was taken to the hospital out of concern that he may have swallowed some of the drug. He was ultimately booked and taken to Cumberland County Jail as was Wallace.

Splude, who has a previous federal conviction for drug trafficking, was charged with possession of crack cocaine, refusing to submit to arrest and falsifying physical evidence. Wallace is charged with displaying a fictitious inspection sticker, obstructing government administration, possession of prescription drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.


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