Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

SLOW LEARNER

Education is expensive, a lesson some people are slow to learn.

According to Prescott Police Chief Sam Reeder, officers Wayne Sorrells and Jordan noticed a man walking south on East Second.

As neither recognized the man, they turned the police car around to find out who he was.

One thing led to another, and this later led to the arrest of Toney Purifoy, 34, of Bluff City.

After stopping Purifoy, the officers asked for identification and were given an ID card.

He informed the officers he lived in Bluff City and had no driver's license as he had been released from the Arkansas Department of Corrections in March. The officers were told Purifoy obtained the ID card so he could try and get a job.

He told them he worked part-time at Eddies store in Bluff City.

The officers ran a background check on Purifoy, finding an outstanding warrant for him from Ouachita County. The officers were asked to pick Purifoy up and hold him until officers could be sent to take him back.

During the search, two crack pipes were found in Purifoy's front pocket. One of the pipe's was a gold colored metal tube with black residue on one end. The second pipe, small and silver in color, was found wrapped in a paper towel in his other front pocket.

When asked if he smoked crack cocaine, Purifoy reportedly told the officers he did.

Sorrells then asked if Purifoy had any crack on him, and was again told yes.

Jordan opened a small purple bag and found a small piece of a plastic bag used for wrapping sandwiches. Inside the bag was a small amount of what is believed to be crack cocaine.

Further searching turned up a dollar bill rolled up and containing what is believed to also be crack cocaine inside another plastic bag.

Purifoy was told he was being arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was then taken to the NCSO, where he is currently being held.