In a bizarre turn of events, a Florida woman inadvertently tipped off the police about her illicit activities when she mistakenly texted a law enforcement officer instead of her drug dealer. The woman, identified as 41-year-old Octavia Wells, was seeking to purchase fentanyl, a potent opioid, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Wells, who was reportedly on her way to a rehabilitation center on New Year’s Eve, sent a text message to a contact saved as “PJ” in her phone. She offered to pay $45 for the drug, unaware that “PJ” was not her dealer but a local police officer. The officer in question was Stephen Pettijohn, an investigator with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, who was familiar with Wells from a previous encounter.
Unaware of her mistake, Wells arranged a meeting with “PJ” at a Tom Thumb convenience store in Panama City. However, instead of meeting her dealer, she was greeted by narcotics officers ready to apprehend her. The police report, obtained by The Smoking Gun, detailed the incident.
Wells soon discovered her error when she was arrested at the convenience store. She allegedly admitted to the police that the name “PJ” was similar to her drug dealer’s, leading to the mix-up. The nature of Wells’ previous interaction with Pettijohn was not disclosed in the arrest affidavit.
Following her arrest, Wells was charged with unlawful use of a communication device, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drug abuse and the unexpected ways in which law enforcement can uncover illegal activities.