SALYERSVILLE – A Magoffin County man was arrested Tuesday night after police received an anonymous tip about someone selling meth in downtown Salyersville.
According to the police reports, on Tuesday, March 11 Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputies T. Lafferty and N. Watson received an anonymous tip that Matthew Owens was spotted at Speedway and was on his way to sell methamphetamine in a small, gray Ford SUV.
Police located a SUV matching the description on East Maple Street, and observed the driver hit the fog line multiple times, causing them to initiate a traffic stop.
As the deputies approached the vehicle, one observed the passenger reportedly making fast movements around his midsection and the floorboard of the vehicle, and once they made contact with the passenger, reported him acting nervously, according to the arrest citations.
Police asked the passenger to step out the vehicle and noted in the citation they noticed a square bulge in the passenger’s crotch area while he was quickly putting his hands into his pockets. Police asked him to step to the front of the cruiser and empty his pockets, according to the citation.
Once he emptied his pocket, police asked him if he had anything else on him, to which he stated he did not, but continued to try to twist and move while police searched his pockets. While patting him down, the officer noticed something hard at the bottom of his crotch area, but he continued to say he didn’t have anything. The deputy asked him to pull his pants out, observing a square bulge in his underwear, according to the citation.
He told police he did not have an ID, but he gave them his Social Security number, at which time dispatch was able to confirm he had an extradition warrant for his arrest out of Ohio, so he was placed under arrest, according to the police report.
At this time, Matthew Owens, 50, of Middle Fork, in Salyersville, reportedly started refusing police directions, requiring more officers to restrain him while he could be handcuffed, according to the citation.
Owens then told police they could not retrieve what was in his underwear and he had to be taken to the hospital and not jail, but the officers retrieved a small black nylon case from his underwear containing: a clear bag containing 97.5 grams of a white, rocky substance believed to be methamphetamine; a small clear bag containing 8.7 grams of white rocky substance believed to be methamphetamine; a small clear bag containing 1.8 grams believed to be fentanyl; and a small bag of assorted pills, according to the police report.
Owens reportedly complained of a torn rotator cup, so police placed him in two sets of handcuffs, but the officers could hear him attempting to unlock the handcuffs while they were searching the vehicle. Police recovered a handcuff key from Owens’ hand, according to the arrest citation.
Police found $1,475 in cash on Owens, and a High Point 9 mm pistol in the vehicle.
Owens was taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center early on March 12, and released later that same day. He currently faces the following charges locally: first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (greater than or equal to two grams methamphetamine); trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense, (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives); possession of a handgun by convicted felon; persistent felony offender; first-degree escape (attempt); buying or possessing drug paraphernalia; tampering with physical evidence; and prescription controlled substance not in proper container second or greater offense.
He was set to be arraigned on March 12, though information from that hearing was not available at press time.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
