A man found in a barn in Fulton County under the influence of methamphetamine and in the possession of firearms has been charged with multiple felonies including four counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a class Y felony; two counts of possession of a controlled substance meth or cocaine, a class B felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a class D felony and theft by receiving, a class D felony.
According to an affidavit for probable cause of arrest, authorities received a call from residence on Sturkie Road stating a man was in a barn with a rifle.
When authorities arrived, they met with the property owner and found Nathan Birdsell, 48, inside the barn.
The officer announced his presence and at rifle point, told Birdsell to show his hand and walk toward him.
Birdsell complied and was detained. When asked if he had anything on him, Birdsell stated he had a revolver in his back pocket.
“Nathan was sweating and acting extremely erratic and appeared to be under the influence of something,” the affidavit states.
Birdsell told the officer he had smoked “something white” prior and the substance he used was sitting on the tail gate of his truck which had been parked inside the homeowner’s barn.
The officer then secured the AR style rifle and a semi-automatic shotgun that was found nearby.
A bag containing a white crystalline substance which later field tested positive for methamphetamine was discovered along with a green leafy substance and a smoking device for each substance.
Birdsell told the officer he did not know the property he was on but had chosen it because of a tree he had spotted.
Also located was a .357 revolver in the stall where Birdsell had been standing. Ammunition for the revolver along with a brown substance inside a pill capsule and three baggies with the substance were also discovered.
Birdsell was taken into custody and transported to the Fulton County Jail.
While logging the firearms into the NCIC system, it was discovered the 12-gauge shotgun had been reported stolen out of Washington.
Bond for Birdsell was set at $30,000 and he has since bonded out.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
