On Thursday, January 16, 2025, at approximately 8:00 PM, a Task Force Officer with the Westside Narcotics Task Force (HIDTA) conducted a traffic stop on a passenger vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 10 near the 720-mile marker in Austin County, Texas.
The stop was initiated for multiple traffic violations. The vehicle’s occupants, identified as Kara Turney, 37, and Samiarae Day, 46, were detained. During the stop, the officer requested the assistance of the Waller County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. K-9 “Daniel” was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of approximately 276 grams of methamphetamine. Turney and Day were arrested at the scene and transported to the Austin County Jail without incident.
The Westside Narcotics Task Force, which operates across five counties, includes investigators from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, Bellville PD, Sealy PD, Hempstead PD, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA.
This investigation remains ongoing.
