Man arrested after police dog finds drugs during traffic stop in Summerville

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) – The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office says they arrested a man after a large quantity of narcotics was discovered during a traffic stop.

Shawn Casey Thieman, 32, is charged with trafficking methamphetamine over 100 grams but less than 200 grams, trafficking heroin, possession of a scheduled narcotic and manufacturing a scheduled narcotic.

Shawn Casey Thieman, 32, faces various charges after officers found drugs in the vehicle... — Shawn Casey Thieman, 32, faces various charges after officers found drugs in the vehicle he was a passenger in.(Berkeley County Detention Center)

According to Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis, a deputy was patrolling the area of North Main Street and Azalea Square Boulevard when he noticed a vehicle without a signal light.

The officer conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver and passenger, who were later identified as Thieman.

The two men agreed to allow officers to search them, but not the vehicle. That’s when Summerville Police Department officers were called to conduct a “free air search” of the vehicle with a K-9 police dog.

According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, during a probable cause search, authorities found a fanny pack containing Narcan and a digital scale. They also found a locked safe in the back seat that contained several plastic bags containing substances that tested positive for fentanyl in field tests.

Nearly 200 grams of methamphetamine and more than 90 grams of marijuana were also found in the safe, and Thieman claimed ownership of the safe and its contents, Lewis said in the release.

The sheriff’s office says Thieman has an extensive criminal history in Berkeley County and has been arrested at least 13 times on various drug, firearm and violence charges since 2012.