Meth found; 2 arrested

Randy Mitchell Staff Writer

Pontotoc County — Two people were arrested Friday after law enforcement reportedly found a large amount of methamphetamine at their residence.

While assisting another agency, county sheriff’s deputies discovered a large amount of methamphetamine in a home and subsequently arrested the occupants.

The couple arrested were 28-year-old Brandon Rowell, Ada, and his girlfriend, Kimberly Manuel, 22, Ada. Sheriff John Christian said the couple was living in a trailer just off U.S. 377 near the Canadian River.

The discovery of the drugs happened while a state child welfare worker was conducting a welfare check.

The worker learned of alleged drug activity going on at the residence where a child resided. Deputies Anthony Heath, Curtis Kennedy and Shandy Bynum went along to assist.

After arriving, officials located Manuel and Rowell outside of the trailer in separate locations.

“Kimberly said Brandon was somewhere on the property,” Heath said in a report. “Kimberly called Brandon and advised that she had to go into the trailer to use the rest room.”

Deputies found Rowell and the child welfare worker told him they needed to check the living conditions.

“Brandon took us into the trailer where Kimberly was still in the rest room,” Heath said. “Kimberly was still in the bathroom when deputy Bynum walked into the room and observed Kimberly stuffing something inside a step leading into the bedroom.”

Bynum noticed a what appeared to be a marijuana joint and a mirror with a white powdery substance on it. Deputies arrested the couple on suspicion of possession of marijuana.

While searching the step, deputies found four baggies which contained a white powdery substance.

“Deputy Kennedy performed a field test on the powder and it tested positive for methamphetamine,” Heath said. “The baggies weighed approximately 22.1 grams.

Deputies stopped the search and requested a search warrant for the rest of the property. The search warrant was granted and numerous drug paraphernalia was found, according to Heath.

The deputies also seized numerous items believed to have been paid for with money made from the sale of methamphetamine.

As well as for the marijuana, the couple was arrested on numerous other complaints. Manuel was arrested on suspicion of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and trafficking in illegal drugs, and Rowell on suspicion of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, trafficking in illegal drugs, maintaining a drug house and child endangerment.