Tamela Stevens

Butler police said they found nearly three dozen stamp bags of suspected heroin in the false bottom of a powdered cleaner can following a weekend traffic stop.

Tamela L. Stevens, 46, of Butler was arrested after a patrol officer pulled her over about 11 p.m. Saturday on West Jefferson Street for driving with a suspended license.

An inventory search of the car she was driving, police said, turned up a cylindrical Ajax can. The bottom of the can was cracked open.

Patrolman Michael Sulerud removed the bottom end and discovered a hidden compartment, which held a paper towel, police said. In the towel, the officer found 35 glassine bags containing what he believed to be heroin.

The can also allegedly had suspected drug-packaging materials. Police said they searched Stevens' purse and found “a large sum of money” in different denominations.

District Judge Bill O'Donnell arraigned her on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and a summary charge of driving during suspension.

Stevens was placed in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bond following arraignment. Her preliminary hearing is May 11. Online court records did not list an attorney for her.