By Pat Culverhouse
What began as a routine check on a vehicle’s license plate Monday evening ended with the arrest of three individuals on multiple drug charges, including possession of illegal narcotics with intent to distribute.
MPD Sgt. Chris Cayer was patrolling the Elm St. area shortly before 10 p.m. when he became suspicious of a Chevrolet Impala and called in a request for a license plate check, Chief of Police Jared McIver said.
“Our check showed the license plate belonged to a different vehicle, and Sgt. Cayer initiated a traffic stop,” McIver said. “The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Zachary Ryan Cook of Springhill, was unable to provide paperwork for the vehicle the three suspects occupied, and we also found his drivers license was expired.”
Further investigation showed one occupant of the vehicle, 27-year-old Stephanie Nicole Lowery of Minden, was the subject of active arrest warrants. After placing her in custody, Sgt. Cayer initiated an inventory of the vehicle after informing the driver it would be towed.
During the search of the vehicle, Sgt. Cayer reportedly discovered various illegal drugs and paraphernalia including a box containing 35.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Also found in the vehicle were an additional small quantity of methamphetamine, five Subutex pills, six Xanax pills, three Oxycodone pills, a bong and a glass pipe.
Currently, Cook is charged with possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Facing the same charges is 31-year-old Hanson McHale Tarvell of Minden, a passenger in the vehicle.
McIver said Lowery is facing the bulk of related charges. She is being held for possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a Legend drug, two counts of possession of CDS Sch. III, possession of a CDS Sch. II, possession of CDS Sch. IV and a pair of bench warrants.
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.
