By Jacob Mathias

A Wausau woman faces felony drug charges in Portage County after deputies found methamphetamine in her vehicle following a collision with a deer.

Elizabeth Gallion, 31, has been charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and THC, which could bring her up to a $10,000 fine, three and a half years imprisonment or both for each charge if convicted. The defendant’s status as a repeat felony offender allows for an addition of up to four years imprisonment to the punishment.

Gallion made her initial appearance in Portage County Circuit Court on May 16.

According to the criminal complaint, a sheriff’s deputy observed an SUV on the side of I-39, near Maple Drive in Dewey, with its hazard lights flashing on May 7. Gallion and two other women in the car told the deputy they’d hit a deer.

During the conversation the deputy noticed the odor of marijuana. After checking the occupants’ names through the Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, the deputy was informed Gallion had two warrants; a felony warrant out for her arrest through the Department of Corrections and a warrant from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department for contempt of court.

When deputies searched the vehicle they found the glove compartment was locked. When police gained access to the glove compartment, they found a glass smoking pipe containing a white residue believed to be methamphetamine. Also in the compartment were a Ziploc baggie containing methamphetamine, a baggie of marijuana and two pipes used for smoking marijuana.

The driver of the vehicle said she didn’t know of the methamphetamine and other paraphernalia in the vehicle. She suspected Gallion had placed the items in the glove compartment while they had stopped at a gas station during their drive between Wisconsin Rapids and Wausau.

When police spoke with Gallion about the items she said, “It’s all mine.”

Gallion had previously been found guilty of possession with intent to distribute amphetamines on January 9, 2015.

She returns to court on May 31 at 3:00 PM for a preliminary hearing.