Meth suspect claimed she was exposed to coronavirus, police say
Tara R. Meloy, 29, Clintonville, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and obstructing an officer.
On Friday, April 17, Clintonville Police Officer Andrew Kizewski observed a blue-silver minivan traveling southbound on South Main Street.
He knew from prior experience that Meloy was associated with the vehicle.
Her probation officer had also requested a warrant for her to be brought into custody.
When Kizewski ran a records check, he found the license plate had expired in June 2019, even though it had a 2020 DOT sticker on it.
Kizewski made a traffic stop and asked for assistance.
Officer Tyler Bartel and Waupaca County Deputy Graham Barden and his K9 partner arrived at the scene.
According to the criminal complaint, Kizewski identified the minivan’s female passenger as Meloy due to prior arrests.
When Kizewski asked her for ID, she reportedly claimed to be Dara Abdullah.
In 2018, Meloy gave Kizewski her sister’s name and information to avoid being arrested, the complaint says.
Kizewski told Meloy to exit the van and informed her that she had an active warrant.
At this time, Meloy reportedly claimed she was exposed to the coronavirus.
She said she had a friend in Green Bay whose roommate’s girlfriend was hospitalized due COVID-19.
Barden’s K9 alerted to the presence of narcotices on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
Officers conducted a search and found five needles, three of which had liquid in them.
The liquid was later identified as meth.
Further investigation by the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office found Meloy did know a woman who had been hospitalized, but for seizures rather than coronavirus.
The woman had tested negative and had been released from the hospital several days earlier.
Meloy also had no direct contact with the woman, the complaint says.
Meloy is currently in custody on a probation hold.