Multiple Charges
Officer Trenton Ruddy responded to a dispatch call concerning a reckless driver on Paris Pike Friday, October 14. Ruddy made contact with the vehicle and ran the tag, which came back not on file. He conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Laurel Street and found the driver to be Ronald Pate, 66, of McKenzie. Ruddy had Pate step out of the vehicle and perform two field sobriety tests, which he did poorly on. Pate was arrested and charged with DUI – first offense, driving on suspended/revoked license, and open container violation. He was transported to Carroll County Jail.
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Drug Paraphernalia/Light Law Violation
On Wednesday evening, October 12, patrolman Austin Jones observed a truck pulling a trailer with no working tail lights or brake lights, and conducted a traffic stop on Park Street. The driver, Kevin Mingle, 41, of McKenzie, granted officers permission to search his truck. The search revealed a smoke pipe, a glass pipe and torch-style lighter. The glass pipe contained a mixture of white hazy residue and burnt residue. Mingle claimed both pipes and was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of light law.
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Domestic Assault
McKenzie Police responded to a 911 call about a domestic incident in progress on Tuesday, October 11. According to the report filed by Trenton Ruddy, he spoke with Dennis Forrest who called in the incident and appeared highly intoxicated, stating that there was an argument, things got heated, and his wife left the residence on foot.
His wife came back and advised Ruddy and the other officers that her husband prevented her from leaving twice by grabbing her wrist. She also advised she fell to the floor during the incident. Dennis Forrest was arrested, charged with domestic assault and was transported to Carroll County Jail.
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Drug Paraphernalia
McKenzie Police received a call on Wednesday morning, October 12, in reference to a probation search by Probation Officer Jessica McDaniel. McDaniel advised that her search located a small black case containing a grinder with a leafy green residue believed to be marijuana, a glass pipe with residue, and a small digital scale. The suspect, Marvin B. Gaston, Jr., is a registered sex offender and subject to home searches. Gaston was cited for possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia.
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Theft
The owner of a local convenience store contacted McKenzie Police on Monday morning, October 10, in reference to a theft. The owner advised his inventory of a certain vape pen was low, so he observed his video. He found that on Sunday afternoon, October 9, a group of individuals came in the store, with one of them taking three vape pens out of a glass case before leaving. The vape pens were valued at $40. Camera footage revealed a Florida license plate. The incident remains under investigation with no charges filed yet.
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Multiple Charges
Sgt. Kyle Beauchamp observed a Chevy Avalanche pulling a trailer with no working tail light or brake light on Saturday, October 8. He conducted a traffic stop on Highland Drive and found the driver, Jason Bradley Batten, of Parsons, driving on a revoked drivers license. Batten was initially arrested and charged with driving on revoked drivers license – first offense. His passenger, Elizabeth Foley, admitted to having a small amount of marijuana in her possession. A search of the vehicle revealed a small jar with a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamines. Batten and Foley were charged with manufacture of methamphetamines, simple possession/casual exchange and possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia.
