Drug-related arrests logged

FORT PAYNE— The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office deputies, narcotics agents and investigators, officers with Powell, Collinsville and Ider police departments arrested 26 people on drug-related charges during the month of February.

There were 65 grams of methamphetamine, 135 grams of marijuana, two grams of fentanyl and two grams of cocaine seized during the month.  

Arrests: Feb 1: DeKalb County deputies were dispatched to the Marathon Gas Station in Kilpatrick for an accidental gunshot wound. While searching the vehicle that transported the gunshot victim to the gas station, methamphetamine and marijuana were found.  Virginia Dale Morgan, 67, of Crossville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (UPDP) and Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.  

Feb. 1: DeKalb County deputies made a traffic stop on County Road 781 in Ider.  Detecting the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle, a search was performed finding the driver to be in possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  Rodney Dewayne Gilreath, 45, of Ider, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPD Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd.   

Feb. 4: Narcotics agents were called to the scene of a structure fire on County Road 139 in Crossville after a chemical odor was detected. Agents made contact with a woman who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers reported she  was found to be in possession of controlled pills that she did not have a prescription for, as well as drug paraphernalia. Melissa Dawn McCreless, 50, of Crossville, was charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and UPDP.   

Feb. 6: DeKalb County deputies went to a residence on County Road 744 in Henagar searching for Lester Nick Durham, 62, of Henagar, who had active warrants.  Upon arrival, deputies reported finding Durham inside the home with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia sitting out in plain view. Durham was charged with three counts of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and two counts of Violation of Release Order. Dana Mechille Gonzalez, 50, of Henagar, was charged with three counts of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP and Obstructing Government Operations.  

Feb. 7: DeKalb County deputies conducted a traffic stop on Alabama Highway 75 for speeding. During a search of the vehicle, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found. Christine Elizabeth Clines, 59, of Ider, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP and a warrant for Failure to Appear. 

Feb. 8: DeKalb County deputies went to a residence on County Road 9000 in Mentone searching for Paul Carter Blalock, 52, of Valley Head, who had active warrants.  Methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found during a search of the residence. Blalock was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st, two counts of Non-payment of Child Support and five warrants for Failure to Appear (FTA).

Feb. 8: DeKalb County deputies made a traffic stop on Alabama Highway 35 and Pendergrass Avenue in Powell finding the driver to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Amanda Ann Smith, 40, of Fyffe, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and UPDP.  

Feb.8: DeKalb County deputies conducted a traffic stop on County Road 651 and County Road 739 finding the driver to be in possession of kratom and several narcotic prescription drugs that he did not have prescriptions for. William Lane Poe Jr., 41, of Fort Payne, was charged with three counts of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP and Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs. 

Feb. 9: Powell police officers conducted a traffic stop on Alabama Highway 35 for traveling on the wrong side of the road. An open container of alcohol, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a firearm were found in the vehicle. Randy Shawn Sturgill, 36, of Henagar, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Open Container-Alcohol in Vehicle, UPDP and Persons Forbidden to Possess Firearm.  Brandon Kyle Stafford, 30, of Trenton, Ga., was charged with UPDP, Open Container-Alcohol in in Vehicle and Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.  

Feb. 14: DeKalb County Narcotics agents made a traffic stop on Alabama Highway 35 near County Road 141, in the Cartersville area. The driver of the vehicle, Mark Chirtra Davis, 50, of Chattanooga, was found to have a felony warrant out of Hamilton County Tenn.  An open container of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. Davis was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd, UPDP and Hold for Agency. Both passengers in the vehicle were also taken into custody. Rita Ann Fuller, 58, of Ider, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and UPDP. Taviea Chikkia Smith, 46, of Chattanooga, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd, UPDP and Promote Prison Contraband 2nd.

Feb. 15: DeKalb County deputies were dispatched to a residence on County Road 1975 on complaints of drug activity. During a search of the residence, methamphetamine, fentanyl, kratom, clonazepam, alprazolam, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found. DHR was called to the scene for a small child and a safety plan was put into place. Bridgett Lashanda Williams, 42, of Boaz, was charged with four counts of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st and UPDP. Michael Stacey McCormick, 54, of Boaz, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and UPDP.  

Feb. 16: DeKalb County deputies were dispatched to a residence in Crossville for a theft in progress. While enroute, Deputies saw a vehicle with their flashers on and stopped to make sure everything was fine with the driver. While talking to the driver, deputies noticed tools that had been described as stolen in the theft.  Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was also found in the vehicle. Terry Lee Epps, 68, of Albertville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd and UPDP.  

Feb. 20: DeKalb County deputies made a traffic stop on County Road 3 in Crossville.  The driver David Mark Tanner, 41, of Crossville, was found to have active warrants with DCSO and deputies said he was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Tanner was charged with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and 3 warrants for FTA.  

Feb. 22: DeKalb County deputies, along with Collinsville police, conducted a traffic stop finding methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Jeremy Matthew Jones, 49, of Collinsville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and 1 warrant for Failure to Appear. Robert Wayne Gladden, 62, of Collinsville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd. 

Feb. 23: DeKalb County deputies were asked by Albertville police to assist them in picking up Brian Allen Elkins, 30, of Boaz, who has outstanding warrants with them and was living in a residence on County Road 15 in DeKalb County. When deputies arrived, a white male took off running but was soon apprehended. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was found in the residence. Elkins was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP, Attempt to Elude and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd.

Feb. 26: Ider police and DeKalb County deputies conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, the passenger threw a bag out of the window, which contained drug paraphernalia. Fentanyl and heroin were also found during a search. Anthony Cordell Gass, 47, of Higdon, and Hali Mae Gilbert, 24, of Flat Rock, were both charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP and Tampering with Physical Evidence. 

Feb. 26: DeKalb County deputies made a traffic stop on County Road 479. When asked their names, both driver and passenger gave false ID’s. During a search of the vehicle, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found. Jason Clay Edde, 47, of Albertville, was charged with Use False ID to Obstruct Justice, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and UPDP. Ismael Perez Martinez, 42, of Albertville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP, Use False ID to Obstruct Justice and 3 warrants for Failure to Appear.  

Feb. 27: DeKalb County deputies were dispatched to the bridge on County Road 388 for a vehicle that had stopped. When deputies arrived, they found the driver to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Dana Reese Bearden, 32, of Crossville, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, UPDP and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd.