A routine traffic stop for taillight and seatbelt violations ended with the arrest of the driver and one of the passengers, thanks to the help of one of Jones County’s K9 officers.
The traffic stop and arrests both took place Nov. 25. The passenger, Heath Gregory Butler, 56, was charged with possession methamphetamine. The driver, James Rodney Howard, 43, was charged with possession methamphetamine and possession of a schedule II drug.
A report of the arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kasey Carr said he was monitoring traffic on Highway 49 when he observed an Infiniti pass in front of him traveling north. Carr said the back, passenger window was down, and he noticed the passenger was not wearing a seat belt. He said, as the car passed, the driver tapped the brakes, and he noticed one of the brake lights was out.
At that time, Carr said he conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The officer said he identified himself, and Howard identified himself. Carr said the driver became argumentative and stated he was in a hurry.
The lieutenant got the identifying information for the front and back passenger and found out the front passenger, Heath Butler, had a probation violation warrant. The passenger was asked to exit the car and taken into custody. Carr called for an additional unit.
JCSO Investigator Lt. Gerry Nelson arrived to assist. Carr said he got the back seat passenger and the driver out of the vehicle. The officer said he performed a free air sniff of the car with his partner, K9 Rex, who alerted to the odor of narcotics.
Carr said he returned to the driver and passengers and asked if anyone had illegal narcotics in the vehicle, and they all said no. He then advised them he was going to do a probable cause search.
Nelson stood by with the vehicle occupants while Carr began the search. He found a drawstring bag on the floorboard, and inside he found a clear baggie containing methamphetamine. The deputy also located a glass pipe with a bulb that was destroyed at the scene.
Butler told Carr the bag belonged to him.
The deputy said Investigator Barron Hall arrived and assisted in the search of the vehicle. Carr said a black zippered bag was found in the trunk. Inside the bag, another baggie was located containing methamphetamine, another glass pipe and pills identified as oxycodone.
He said several documents with Howard’s name were found in another pocket in the bag, and the suspect was placed under arrest.
Carr said Howard and Butler were transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center, and the back seat passenger was released with a seatbelt warning.
The arrests were announced in a Nov. 25 Facebook post by Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece.
“Lieutenant Carr deployed K9 Rex for a free air sniff of the vehicle in which he alerted to the odor of narcotics. A search of the vehicle yielded methamphetamine, oxycodone and a digital scale. Howard was taken into custody and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a schedule II narcotic. Butler is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent,” he said. “That’s a good boy, Rex! Lt. Carr ain’t bad, either.”
