Investigation into stolen firearms lead authorities to an East Industrial Drive motel, where a wanted man had a small quantity of methamphetamine, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a tip that a wanted person could possibly be in possession of stolen firearms and living at the East Industrial Drive residence. The deputies contacted the motel manager. A records check using the man’s name showed him to be wanted in Texarkana and Bowie County. Based on information gleaned, officers believed the man did have firearms in his room.
Deputies waited until they saw a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, a silver Kia Soul with the back window broken out, pull into the parking lot at 2:47 p.m. July 29. They then conducted a traffic stop. The suspect, 34-year-old Joe Edward Rawson of Texarkana, was the front seat passenger. He was detained in handcuffs and gave deputies a false name, which he later admitted was because he was aware of a warrant for his arrest, Deputy Elijah Fite and Deputy Richard Brantley alleged in arrest reports.
When questioned about the firearms, he denied having any and agreed to let the deputies search his room. He admitted to having a methamphetamine pipe by his side of the bed. Deputies confirmed the man was indeed wanted in Texarkana for violation of probation which he was on for burglary of a vehicle and in Bowie County for violation of probation, which he was on for attempt to commit possession of a controlled substance. True to his word, officers failed to locate any firearms but did find multiple glass pipes of the kind used to smoke methamphetamine as well as a clear bag containing 0.2 gram of a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Rawson was arrested at 4:10 p.m. Thursday at the motel on the warrants as well as for possession of less than1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. A drug-fee zone enhancement was added due to the motel’s proximity to Paris Junior College.
The 34-year-old Texarkana, Texas man remained in Hopkins County jail Friday, July 30, 2021, in lieu of $5,000 on the controlled substance charge and $2,000 on the burglary charge. No bond was set on the other charge.
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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.
