Man dies after reportedly swallowing meth during Wythe Co. traffic stop

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Authorities are investigating a man’s death following a traffic stop in Wythe County Friday night.

According to the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy responded to a report about a possibly intoxicated driver in Ivanhoe just after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24.

While patrolling the area, two deputies stopped a Chevrolet car that was traveling on the wrong side of the road on Painters Hill Road, which was driven by 47-year-old Nickie L. Vaughan of Fries, officials say.

A deputy reportedly noticed Vaughan’s uncontrollable movements while speaking with her, as well as a strong odor of alcohol coming from within the vehicle. The deputy then asked Vaughan to get out of the car for a field sobriety test.

While stepping out of the car, the deputy saw that one of Vaughan’s hands was tightly clenched and ended up finding a bag of crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine in her hand. Vaughan was detained at this point, the sheriff’s office says.

According to authorities, the deputy then went to the passenger side and asked 49-year-old John Junior Brown to step out of the car so he could search it. Brown stated he was the one that had been drinking.

Even through no narcotics were found in the vehicle, officials tell WFXR News that Brown was arrested for public intoxication and placed inside the patrol car.

The deputies went back to Vaughan to conduct the field sobriety test, during which time they reportedly heard Brown kicking the door of the patrol vehicle.

When the deputies went to check on Brown, he stated he was suffocating, authorities say. The deputies removed Brown from the car and stood him up on his feet, but he collapsed and started shaking.

Thinking Brown was having a seizure, the deputies called for first responders, according to the sheriff’s office. Then, Brown stopped breathing, so the deputies started performing CPR until Lead Mines Rescue arrived.

Even though Narcan was administered, Brown was reportedly dead. His body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

According to officials, Vaughan said there was methamphetamine in the car and she suspected Brown had swallowed the drug so he wouldn’t get caught with it.

Virginia State Police and the sheriff’s office’s Investigations Division were contacted to investigate the incident.

Authorities say that the deputies’ body camera footage will be reviewed to determine if or when Brown swallowed anything during the traffic stop.

Meanwhile, Vaughan was charged with the following: