Thursday, February 3, 2011
Shoplifters Nabbed With Drugs, Meth Components
Lawrenceburg Police Officers summoned to a business regarding shoplifting Wednesday ended up arresting the suspects on drug-related charges, as well.
Officers report they were summoned to Walmart at 2130 North Locust Avenue at 10:00 p.m. Members of the Walmart Loss Prevention team had informed Lawrence Central Dispatch that the couple had been seen shoplifting.
The man, they said, had been banned from the store in the past for shoplifting, and his name appeared on their no trespassing list.
While they were en route, dispatchers told officers that the female suspect had exited the store and was sitting inside a black sedan near the entrance to the grocery area.
When officers approached the suspect car, they report the woman held a Mountain Dew bottle up to the window and stated that she had “walked out without paying for it and didn’t know why.”
She told officers she had intended to reenter the store. She indicated that she and her boyfriend had come to the business to purchase a car stereo.
Officers asked whether there were any more stolen items inside the car, then inquired about any illegal narcotics or weapons.
They report the woman, identified as Sarah Denise Morris, 26, of 406 Habbard Street, Waynesboro, denied having any additional contraband, but declined to allow a search of the vehicle.
A K-9 unit was subsequently dispatched to the scene. Reports show that the drug dog did not alert them to any narcotics.
Reports show that after a short time the boyfriend, Rocky Duran Jones, 30, of 1649 Ridge Circle, Joelton, Tennessee, exited the store.
Instead of returning to his car, reports show that Jones glanced at the officers, then began to walk in another direction.
After they made contact with him, officers indicate Jones asked to retrieve his jacket from inside the vehicle and was allowed to do so.
When he placed his right hand into the jacket, however, officers noticed a pair of shorts had been concealed in the coat sleeve. Officers determined the shorts belonged to Walmart and indicate the couple was unable to provide a receipt for the item.
As a result, officers initiated a thorough search of the vehicle. Reports show they located several items of merchandise that had apparently been stolen.
Inside a maroon vinyl case found in the vehicle, officers report discovering three plastic bags containing methamphetamine, one containing marijuana, three marijuana roaches, a Xanax pill, six Suboxine pills and 3 Serequel pills, along with several items considered to be drug paraphernalia.
Also during the search, officers report they located items associated with the manufacture of the drug methamphetamine. Coffee filters, Coleman fuel and lithium batteries were seized into evidence. Officers say Jones admitted he “was getting the times for someone else to manufacture meth.” Also, they report that Jones claimed ownership of all the contraband.
Both Morris and Jones were placed under arrest and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. Upon arrival reports show that Morris was found to be in possession of a glass pipe bearing marijuana residue.
Morris was ultimately booked under charges of theft (shoplifting) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jones was booked on charges of possession of Schedule II narcotics, possession of Schedule IV narcotics, possession of Schedule III narcotics, possession of a legend drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both Morris and Jones are scheduled for an initial appearance in Lawrence County General Sessions Court on March 4, 2011.
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