Palestine, Texas (July 17, 2023) – At approximately midnight, on Thursday, July 13th, Officer B. Martin initiated a traffic stop in the 100 block of E. Palestine Avenue on a vehicle with a defective brake lamp. The vehicle came to a stop in the 1100 block of Cedar St, and Officer Martin contacted the driver, identified as Leslie Hawkins, 32.
Officer Martin conducted a probable cause search due to the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. During the search he located two small bags of marijuana and a plastic bag containing seven multicolored tablets identified as MDMA (Ecstasy) in the console. Officer Martin also located a large plastic bag in the back seat containing numerous MDMA tablets. The total weight of the MDMA with packaging was later found to be over 116 grams.
Based on the number of pills, along with scales and packaging materials, it was determined that she possessed the MDMA with intent to distribute. Hawkins was arrested and booked at the Anderson County jail for Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 2 >=4G <400G, a 1st degree felony.