By Bonnie Culverhouse
A Minden man now knows that stealing a frog can result in a drug arrest.
Tony Waltman, 32, of the 100 block of High Street, was arrested by WPSO investigators for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Jason Parker, around 12:30 p.m. last Friday, Sgt. Josh McCormick and Capt. Bobby Igo III were passing the old Hope Youth Ranch General Store on Pine Street when they noticed a dark-colored Nissan parked under a covered area and a male walking from the rear of the store with an object in his hands.
“The store has not been in business for several years, so investigators were suspicious that the male was stealing the object,” Parker said. “They turned their vehicle around and noticed the male, later identified as Waltman, was in the Nissan and attempting to leave the property.”
McCormick and Igo reportedly activated their emergency lights and stopped the vehicle.
“Capt. Igo identified himself and asked Waltman why he was on the property,” said the sheriff. “He told Capt. Igo that he was taking a ceramic frog he found and handed it to him. When Waltman was asked if he had permission to take the frog, he said he did not.”
According to the report, Waltman was shaking uncontrollably. As he emptied his pockets, Waltman allegedly admitted to having methamphetamine (approximately 3 grams) and a glass meth pipe.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
