December 8, 2020 – Three people were jailed on unrelated controlled substance charges over the past 2 days, according to arrest reports.
Main Street Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tanner Steward reported stopping 48-year-old Earnest Miller Johnson of Sulphur Springs at 10:16 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, on Main Street at Davis Street for failure to stop. The Dodge 1500 he was driving rolled past a designated stopping point. Steward alleged seeing the man making what he considered to be furtive movements as he approached the truck.
Johnson reportedly agreed to let officers search the vehicle. Steward allegedly found a bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in the vehicle. He allegedly admitted the substance belonged to him and was arrested at 10:38 p.m. on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
He was released from Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Dec. 8, on a $5,000 bond, according to jail reports.
State Highway 19 South Traffic Stop
A 39-year-old Sulphur Springs woman caught deputies’ attention around 12:40 a.m. Monday by driving a Chevrolet C3500 pickup south on the shoulder of State Highway 19. Upon seeing the officer, she reportedly opened the truck door and waved her hands to garner his attention. She told the officer she was possibly running out of fuel, but would attempt to continue south in order to make it to Rains County, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney noted in arrest reports.
Immediately after, however, the car died and stopped at the intersection of State Highway 19 south at County Road 1165. Chaney stopped to provide assistance, offering to give her a courtesy ride to a gas station if she needed one. She accepted. He told her he would need to see her identification and check her purse in order to transport her in a patrol vehicle. Melissa Ann Kerby reportedly handed over her ID and purse, but appeared to the deputy to be apprehensive about letting her search the bag’s contents. She allegedly admitted she was apprehensive because she believed there was marijuana in the purse.
A search of the purse revealed a small amount of green, leafy substance Chaney believed was indeed marijuana. He then advised he would be conducting a probable cause of the vehicle. Kerby walked to the vehicle, took the keys out and, it appeared to the deputy, she was tried to make it look like she was having trouble unlocking it. Chaney instructed her to step aside and move the leg she had against the door. She did and Chaney noted the door was unlocked. She was placed into handcuffed due to her behavior.
HCSO Sgt. Scott Davis and Deputy Elijah Fite arrived to assist. The deputies found a container with a crystal-like substance they believed to be methamphetamine, a loaded revolver and multiple items of drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, Chaney alleged in arrest reports. She was taken into custody at 1:02 a.m. Dec. 7 for possession of a controlled substance and transported to jail; the vehicle was impounded.
Upon arrival at Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center, before entering the jail, Kerby allegedly admitted to having additional contraband in her bra. She removed the three bags containing more suspected methamphetamine and handed it to Chaney. The substance field tested positive for meth and weighed 2.8 grams, including packaging.
Consequently, the woman was booked into jail just before 4 a.m. Monday for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon. She was released from Hopkins County jail later Monday on a $10,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
State Highway 11 East Traffic Stop
Deputies stopped a 50-year-old Sulphur Springs red Ford Ranger at 10:21 p.m. Dec. 6 on State Highway 11 east, west of FM 2560, for a traffic violation. Upon contact, officers noted the driver exhibited signs of bruxism. HCSO Sgt. Scott Davis alleged the 50-year-old man’s hands were trembling when he handed his license to him. Davis noted David Alan Deaton also spoke rapidly and wouldn’t make eye contact with the him.
Davis said he knew the man to have a history of illegal narcotics usage. Based on that and his observations, Davis said he obtained permission to search the truck. Two empty syringes and two bags containing a crystal-like substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine were found in the console, deputies alleged in arrest reports. Deputy Elijah Fite was credited with assisting on the traffic stop.
Deaton was jailed for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The 50-year-old Sulphur Springs man was released from Hopkins County jail Monday, Dec. 7, on a $10,000 bond, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
