FAYETTE COUNTY TRAFFIC STOP ENDS IN DRUG ARREST

  

Early this morning (Friday) Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Otten conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 71 near the FM 159 exit ramp for a traffic violation. Once the vehicle was stopped Otten noticed several other traffic violations as well as the nervous behavior of the passenger.

Otten received consent to search the vehicle and found crystal methamphetamine along with cocaine and several items of drug paraphernalia.  Deputy Otten, and the other two officers assisting him, Deputy Darrell Maze and LaGrange Police Officer, Jeffery Schultz attempted to take a female passenger into custody when a struggle began, but Officers were able to effect the arrest without injury. 

Arrested and transported to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center was 39 year old Jennifer Rene Ratka of Austin.  Ratka was charged with 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, search, or transport, and failure to identify giving false/fictitious information.