Two routine traffic stops and one reckless driver complaint resulted in three controlled substance arrests, according to sheriff’s reports.
FM 1567 Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tanner Steward reported initiated a traffic stop at 8:54 p.m. Saturday on a silver Nissan Altima that was not driven in a single lane of traffic on FM 1567.
The deputy alleged seeing a gray object ejected from the passenger side of the car as he turned on the patrol lights on his vehicle. The object, Steward noted, landed on the side of the road at the FM 1567-FM 2948 intersection. HCSO Deputy Nick Marney, who was responding to assist, stopped and collected the object as requested by Steward.
Upon contact, Steward reported having both occupants step out of the auto, then placed the driver, identified in arrest reports as Truman Leon Pope Jr., into custody.
Deputies found a piece of taped paper containing a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighted 0.16 gram in during a probable cause search of the car.
The deputies believed Pope threw the object from the driver’s side out the passenger’s window. Pope was taken into custody; the passenger was given a ride to Yantis as the vehicle was impounded.
The 61-year-old Emory man was booked into Hopkins County jail at 11:13 p.m. July 1, 2021, on tampering with evidence and possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substances. He was released from jail Monday, July 12, 2021, on a $5,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and a $10,000 bond on the tampering with evidence charge.
Reckless Driving Complaint
HCSO Deputy Jason Lavender reported spotting a brown Hyundai SUV that matched the description of one for which dispatchers had received a reckless driving complaint. The SUV passed the deputy on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 112 and pulled in behind it and followed it to the eastbound rest area, where Lavender hit his patrol vehicle’s lights to let the driver know he was approaching.
Upon contact with the occupants, Lavender alleged he immediately smelled a strong marijuana odor emitting from the vehicle. He had both occupants get out and detained them in handcuffs. The driver, identified in arrest reports as Noah Truera, admitted to having a small amount of marijuana in a black bag in the SUV. During a probable cause search, the deputy did indeed located a bag containing not only a small amount of marijuana but also a small Ziploc type bag containing a white, crystal-like substance the deputy suspected based on his training to be methamphetamine.
The 22-year-old Garland man was arrested at 3:52 p.m. July 11, 2021, on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge. Truera remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, July 12, 2021, in lieu of the $5,000 bond set on the felony charge.
Church Street Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported stopping a Ford F150 pickup at 9:58 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2021, for a defective license plate light. The deputies reported signs of deception and nervous behavior from both Terry Lynne Wright and the passenger while talking with them, Sgt. Steward and Deputies Drew Fisher, Nick Marney and J. Davis alleged in arrest reports.
The passenger allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana. The 54-year-old driver refused to let the deputies search the truck, but admitted to having methamphetamine on him and in the Lariat. The Sulphur Springs man handed over a hide-a-key box with two baggies, one containing a crystal-like substance that tested positive for meth. Wright reportedly claimed all of the substance and was placed into custody. Deputies located an empty baggy which contained more crystal-like substance that tested positive for meth later, as well as an empty bag, set of digital scales, drug paraphernalia and about $1,160 in U.S. currency in the truck.
The woman was released, the truck impounded and Wright was booked into Hopkins County jail for possession of 43.74 total grams of suspected methamphetamine. The 54-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, July 12, 201, in lieu of the $75,000 bond set on the manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
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.
