Bags of suspected cocaine and a cell phone with text messages that indicated drug sales were among evidence leading to a woman's arrest Wednesday in connection with an October traffic stop in Butler, according to authorities.

Tasha E. Lutz, 29, of Butler, is in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bond. She is accused of felony drug possession and other charges.

City police said they initially came upon Lutz riding in a pickup truck that was stopped shortly after 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11 on West Cunningham Street near West Jefferson Street. The truck was pulled over for having an expired registration.

She allegedly gave a bogus name to police, but another officer recognized her. Police subsequently learned she was wanted on a bench warrant.

Police said the defendant admitted she had a crack pipe in her bra and also told officers a book bag in the truck belonged to her.

She also made an unsolicited statement, according to charging documents, in which she referred to herself as a “middle man” in the trafficking of drugs.

A search of the book bag, police said, turned up two small plastic bags of suspected crack cocaine and another plastic bag of suspected powder cocaine.

Also allegedly in the book bag were 18 empty plastic bags containing suspected cocaine residue, seven empty drug stamp bags, a scale with powder residue, two metal spoons with similar residue, five syringes and other drug contraband.

Additionally, officers seized a cell phone from the book bag. Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for the phone's contents.

Patrolman William Dobson, the arresting officer, noted in his affidavit that the search uncovered “text messages indicative of Lutz using her cell phone to arrange for the sale of narcotics.”

Lutz was arraigned on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.

She also was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement authorities.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2. Online court records did not indicate if she has an attorney.

Tasha Lutz