A man slumped over the wheel of his pickup that was sitting in an intersection caught the attention of an Izard County Sheriff’s Deputy over the past weekend.
Accoring to a release from Izard County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Charley Melton, Deputy Sean Tomlinson was patrolling State Highway 9, north of Melbourne near Newburg Road on Dec. 6, around 12:55 a.m. While approaching Newburg Road, Tomlinson observed a pickup setting in the intersection almost in the traffic lane for Hwy. 9, the release said.
After passing the pickup, Tomlinson noticed the vehicle was not pulling onto the road. Tomlinson went back to check on the vehicle. When he approached the vehicle, he observed a male subject, later identified as Paul Chavis (pictured), 35, of Glencoe, slumped over the steering wheel, according to Melton’s release.
Tomlinson stated the vehicle was in drive, and Chavis had a foot on both the accelerator and brake pedals. Tomlinson was able to wake Chavis and had him place the vehicle in park. After speaking with Chavis for a few minutes, Tomlinson deployed his K-9 partner Mendy who gave a positive alert on the pickup, the release said.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, Tomlinson located a bag that contained several smoking devices that contained a white crystalline substance, several plastic baggies that contained a large amount of a crystalline substance, digital scales, marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia, unidentified paper resembling LSD, THC-infused candies, a loaded pistol within the reach of the driver, and $13,800 in cash, the release said.
During a post-Miranda interview, Chavis admitted to distributing methamphetamine and that the unidentified paper was LSD, according to the release. The substance in the baggies was field-tested, and it showed positive for methamphetamine, authorities said.
Chavis was formally charged with:
- Possession with the purpose to deliver methamphetamine if more than 10 grams but less than 200 grams is a Class A felony
- Possession with the purpose to deliver a Schedule I or II controlled substance not methamphetamine/cocaine if less than 2 grams is a Class C felony
- Possession with the purpose to deliver a Schedule VI-controlled substance if more than 4 ounces but less than 25 lbs is a Class C felony
- Possession of drug paraphernalia with the purpose to analyze methamphetamine is a Class B felony
- Possession of drug paraphernalia with the purpose to ingest methamphetamine is a Class D felony (3 counts)
- Simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms is a Class Y felony
Chavis’ bond was set at $100,000 professional with a court date in the Izard County Circuit Court of Dec. 23.
As a result of the arrest the cash, pistol, and vehicle has been seized, the report said.
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