A Williford man was taken into custody and charged April 15 after more than 8 ounces of methamphetamine and nearly $10,000 were confiscated during a search.
According to a report from the Cherokee Village Police Department Cherokee Village Officer Beau McBride pulled into the Casey’s General Store parking lot and observed a vehicle belonging to Aaron Slayton, 37, sitting in front of the store.
Recent information regarding Slayton indicated he had been moving drugs through the area.
McBride contacted probation officer James Irvin to get permission to speak with Slayton and search his vehicle as Slayton has a search waiver on file.
McBride contacted Sergeant Steve Dravenstott of the Highland Police Department and Officer Jordan Powell with the Cherokee Village Police Department to notify them of his location.
Both officers met McBride at the gas station and made contact with Slayton.
Dravenstott asked if Slayton had anything illegal in the vehicle and asked to search.
Slayton said there was nothing in the vehicle and gave consent to search.
Slayton stepped from the vehicle and was patted down.
As McBride conducted the pat down he found a large sum of $100 bills.
Slayton said he had just finished a job and had been paid.
While searching Slayton’s vehicle, William Yarborough appeared and said he was to meet Slayton.
While searching the vehicle, officers found a grey bag located under the dash of the driver’s side.
As Powell walked to the back of the vehicle with the bag, Slayton tapped Dravenstott on the shoulder, turned around and placed his hands behind his back.
Dravenstott placed Slayton in handcuffs without incident.
Inside the bag, a large bag with a crystal like substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine was found. Additionally during the search, more methamphetamine, unidentified pills, eight needles and cash exceeding $9600 and more were found.
Slayton was transported to the Sharp County Detention Center and is awaiting the filing of formal charges of trafficking a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Slayton at the time of the stop was also within 1000 feet of several schools and churches which carries an enhancement charge.
The following day, McBride met with Slayton at the jail to speak to him about the incident and items confiscated the night before and to conduct a confiscation report.
Slayton advised he did not want to sign anything (the confiscation report) without speaking to his lawyer.
As a result, a second officer signed off on the report as is protocol when a suspect refuses to sign.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
