Plaza and Lopez Arrested on Coffee Country Drug Related Charges

By Carol A. Gasser Moore

DOUGLAS, Coffee County, Georgia – Two people – Elizabeth Plaza (31) of Nicholls and Enrique Lopez (47) of Douglas – were successfully arrested by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in August.  The arrests are the culmination of events which began on Friday, August 9 in Coffee County.

The CCSO report indicates that a CCSO deputy observed a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado turn into the Be Safe Climate Storage on Southwest Bowens Mill Road.  The vehicle went to the back of the storage unit.  Within a very short time, the officer observed a gray Dodge Charger which also went to the back of the same storage unit for a brief time and then left.  After the observation, CCSO detectives attempted to stop the Chevrolet Colorado.  The driver, now identified as Elizabeth Plaza, refused to stop and fled.

With Plaza’s flight from being stopped, CCSO detectives pursued Plaza.  She is said to have led officers on a chase through Douglas about 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 9. During the chase, Plaza allegedly attempted to discard illegal drugs While CCSO deputies chased Plaza, they observed what was suspected to be illegal drugs thrown from the vehicle’s window.

The report states that the Chevrolet Colorado was driven by Plaza, but was owned by Lopez.  Lopez is said to have been a passenger of the vehicle at the time of the incident.

The chase ended in Douglas, near North Daughtry Avenue and West Ward Street.   At the time of Plaza’s arrest, officers found marijuana residue on her clothing.  They also located a 22-caliber handgun inside the Chevrolet.  When detectives searched the area where they observed Plaza throwing something out through the vehicle’s window, they located drugs including methamphetamine.

A warrant for the Be Safe Climate Storage produced two (2) pounds of marijuana, scales and drug packaging material.

Elizabeth Plaza was charged on August 9 with:

• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Trafficking marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine or illegal drugs
• Fleeing or attempting to elude officers
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

On Wednesday, August 14, Enrique Lopez was arrested.  The Lanier County News (LCN) has learned that Lopez had a prior arrest on methamphetamine trafficking charges from July.  The August events prompted Lopez to be charged with:

• Trafficking cocaine
• Trafficking methamphetamine
• Possession/distribution/manufacture of marijuana

Other related charges have also been made.

Both Elizabeth Plaza and Enrique Lopez were booked into the Coffee County Jail.  At the time of writing this article, both Plaza and Lopez remained in jail.