Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Area Police Agencies Make Drug Bust; Autopsy Results In

A 47-year-old Prescott man has been charged with possession of a controlled substance as the result of a weekend drug raid.

According to Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell, Patrick White was placed under arrest after a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine was found at his residence.

Officers with the NSCO, Arkansas State Police criminal investigation division and narcotics division, along with the South Central Drug Task Force, executed a warrant on White's residence after an investigation gave probable cause for the warrant's issuance.

Along with the substance, a .44 magnum handgun and drug paraphernalia was found at the scene.

White is expected to be charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.

Also on the scene of the arrest were ASP Lt. Cleve Barfield and investigator Todd Daley.

"From information gathered during the investigation," Otwell said, "it appears White may be one of the largest distributors of crystal meth in the area.

"Cooperation among the different agencies is maximizing the effectiveness of the investigations, and the new computer system at the NCSO is expediting the administrative preparation of the warrants and cutting our lead time by about an hour."

Otwell said if the current trend continues, the NCSO will set a record on felony drug arrests made. During his 14 months in office, some 15 or 16 felony drug arrests have been made.

"We're team players," he said of the NCSO. "We work with other agencies to do the job. I promised people we would cooperate when I ran, and now (the cooperation) it's producing fruit. We're all working for the common good of the people."

EMERGENCY LINE

A new emergency telephone line is being added to the NCSO.

This line will not only give residents of the city and county access to the Nevada County Ambulance Service, but also to all other emergency departments in the county.

Otwell and Chad Cornelius, owner of the NCAS, worked together for the new emergency number. Now, by calling 887-2651, citizens can reach emergency personnel. However, this number is for emergency use only and should not be used for routine calls to the NCSO or NCAS.

With the departments using the same line, the county will be saved more than $500 annually.

This phone number began operation Monday, Feb. 23.

The NCSO non-emergency phone number is still 887-2616. The new emergency phone number, 887-2651, again, should only be used for actual emergencies.

AUTOPSY RESULTS IN

Preliminary autopsy results for Donald Jefferson, 47, of Little Rock, are in.

The results show his death was accidental and due to drowning.

Jefferson was killed when he and Earnest McClellan, 52, of Gurdon, were attempting to cross a flooded section of county road 23 Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The road was flooded by Terre Rouge Creek, following torrential rains Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Jefferson's body was recovered around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.

No charges are expected to be filed in the case.

DWI ACCIDENT

A 58-year-old Prescott man was charged with DWI 2 following a one-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon.

According to Prescott Police Department reports, John Vansickle was traveling south on Cale Road around 3:30 p.m. when he apparently lost control of the 1997 Chevrolet pickup he was driving in a curve at the intersection of Martin Street.

The vehicle struck two mailboxes, crossed Martin, hit a culvert in a driveway, crossed the driveway and hit two more mailboxes before hitting a second culvert at Kathryn Street.

At this point, the truck crossed Kathryn, glanced off the side of a tree and came to a rest.

Vansickle was charged after refusing to take a breath test.

MONEY STOLEN

A student reported the theft of $800 in cash from her purse at Prescott High School recently.

According to PPD reports, the student in question "flashed" the money around school, then waited about an hour after the theft occurred to report it.

THEFT OCCURS

Patsy Heflin, an employee at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation, reported the theft of $280 from her purse at work.

According to reports, the purse had been left in the break room, with the theft noticed after Heflin had returned from getting gasoline for her vehicle. The incident occurred from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday night or Monday morning.

TV STOLEN

Bobbie Beasley reported the theft of a 29-inch television set from her home.

The theft was reported Wednesday, Feb. 18, and occurred between the hours of 1:30-11:30 p.m., while she was at work.