At least six people have been arrested on drugs, alcohol and related charges. Two were jailed on controlled substance charges, two on a DWI charge, and one each on or drug paraphernalia and marijuana charges, according to arrest reports.
SH 19 Controlled Substance, Drug Paraphernalia Arrests
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson initiated a traffic stop on a southbound Hyundai Tucson at 9:49 p.m. March 8 on State Highway 19 south at the Hopkins-Rains County line; the driver failed to travel in a single lane and had a defective license plate, according to arrest reports.
The driver reportedly took an extended amount of time to pull over. When contacted, the driver allegedly avoided eye contact with Wilkerson during their conversation, as if nervous. When asked, the driver refused to let the deputy search the SUV. Wilkerson had both driver and passenger step out and patted them down for weapons as a safety precaution and requested an on-call officer to respond with his canine partner, according to arrest reports.
HCSO Sgt. Scott Davis arrived to assist and Deputy Colt Patterson responded with K-9 Chiv. The police dog gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics during an open air olfactory sniff around the vehicle, providing probable cause for a search, Wilkerson alleged in arrest reports.
Deputies found a bag with suspected marijuana residue, two pipes with what appeared to the officers to be burnt methamphetamine residue, a baggy with a crystal-like substance the deputies suspected to be meth, and more than one small bag, Wilkerson noted in arrest reports.
Passenger Christopher Hubert Robinson allegedly claimed one meth pipe and the suspected meth, but claimed the second pipe wasn’t his and was taken into custody on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge. The crystal-like substance field-tested positive as meth and weighed 0.895 gram, including packing, Wilkerson alleged. The driver, identified in arrest reports as a 39-year-old Sunnyvale man, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, and the car was impounded, according to the March 8 arrest report.
The passenger, 36-year-old Robinson of Emory, remained in Hopkins County jail at midday Tuesday, March 9, 2021, on the controlled substance charge; bond on the felony charge was set at $5,000, according to jail reports. The 39-year-old driver also remained in jail Tuesday morning on the misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge.
According to jail reports, March 9 is the second time in two weeks the Sunnyvale man has been booked into Hopkins County jail. The Sunnyvale man spent Saturday night, Feb. 27, in Hopkins County jail on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge as well.
Sulphur Springs police, responding shortly before noon Feb. 27 to a report of possible narcotics use by two people at a vehicle in a parking lot in the 1500 block of West Industrial Drive, reported the man got out of the a Hyundai Tucson as the officer did, then opened the hood and stood as if working on it. He allegedly shut the hood after a few seconds and walked toward officers, police alleged in arrest reports. The officer asked for his ID and explained his reason for being at the location. He had very shaky hands and detectably elevated breathing when providing the documentation, police noted in the Feb. 27 arrest reports.
When the policeman contacted the passenger on Feb. 27, he allegedly observed suspected marijuana in the floorboard and both admitted they’d recently smoked marijuana. When asked, the man reported admitted there was a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine with residue still on it, a pipe made out of tin foil and two baggies containing suspected meth residue and a marijuana grinder. The 39-year-old man, who at the time listed his address as being at the location, was arrested Feb. 27 for possession of drug paraphernalia, according to arrest reports. The other man, a 34-year-old who also listed the location as his address, was arrested on a displaying fictitious license plate warrant, according to the Feb. 28 arrest reports.
Loop 301 DWI Arrest
A motorist caught a police officer’s attention by speeding in a gray Dodge 1500 pickup on East Loop 301 just after 2:30 p.m. March 8. Upon contact with the driver, the Sulphur Springs Police officer noted she had red, glassy eyes and slurred speech. When she stepped out of the vehicle as requested, the policeman noted in arrest reports, the Cooper woman used her door to support herself.
She failed horizontal gaze nystagmus tests but agreed to let police search the pickup. He reported finding a half-empty 40-ounce alcoholic beverage can that was cold to the touch. The 52-year-old allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol and to taking prescription medication that morning.
Based on her admissions and his findings, the officer believed the Cooper woman represented a danger to herself and others in her condition and took her into custody for driving while intoxicated. She later agreed to a blood draw, which was taken at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, then returned to jail. She remained in the county jail at lunch time Tuesday, March 9, 2021, on the charge; bond was set at $1,000, according to jail reports.
Controlled Substance, DWI Warrants
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified Jose Angel Valdez was being held in Webb County jail on two Hopkins County warrants.
Transport Deputy Frank Tiemann traveled to Laredo, and took custody of the 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man at 7:32 a.m. Monday, March 8, 2021. Tiemann transported Valdez to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked at 4:36 p.m. March 8, 20201, on the warrants for bond forfeiture on possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and driving while intoxicated charges, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail at midday Tuesday, March 9. His new bond was set at $10,000 on the controlled substance charge and $5,000 on the other, according to jail reports.
According to jail reports, Valdez was originally arrested July 22, 2018, on the possession of a controlled substance charge, and released from jail the next day on a $5,000 bond on the charge. He then was arrested Oct. 21, 2018 on a DWI charge; he was released from jail later that day on a $1,000 bond, according to jail reports.
Marijuana Arrest
Sulphur Springs police reported stopping a Ford sedan just before 3:40 p.m. March 8 for a traffic violation on Carter Street, and smelled a marijuana odor emitting from the car upon contact with the driver and occupant.
Both occupants were reported to be nervous and when asked if there was anything in the vehicle, they admitted they’d smoked marijuana before getting into the car. The passenger also allegedly admitted to having marijuana in a backpack between his feet.
Police reported finding two jars of suspected marijuana in backpack; the 25-year-old Sulphur Springs passenger claimed the backpack and suspected marijuana and was arrested for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana in a drug-free zone. He remained in Hopkins County jail at midday Tuesday, March 9, 2021; bond on the Class A misdemeanor charge was set at $1,000, according to jail reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
