Local woman passes out in vehicle with Spice, booze, child inside
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
The following felony arrests were reported by officers of the Atmore Police Department (APD) during the period December 19-26:
Brandy Gregson
Police arrested an Atmore woman December 23 after she apparently passed out inside her vehicle in a local parking lot with a young child — along with synthetic cannabis and a cup of an alcoholic beverage — also in the vehicle.
Officers were sent around 7:55 p.m. to the intersection of Carver and Ashley streets after dispatchers relayed a report that the driver of a vehicle in a parking lot there was “passed out behind the wheel with the doors locked and a child less than five years of age in the vehicle.”
Police were eventually able to awaken the driver, 34-year-old Brandy Gregson. They were also able to see “in plain view” an unspecified amount of Spice that was “easily accessible to the child.”
Officers also noted that Gregson had “a strong odor of alcohol about her breath” and that a cup containing an alcoholic beverage was in the cup holder. “Items used to consume narcotics” were also found.
The child had gotten out of the vehicle while police were enroute and had walked a short distance away, reports show.
Gregson was cuffed and taken to the ECDC, where she was held on one count each of DUI-alcohol, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, chemical endangerment of a child, and causing the delinquency, dependency or need of supervision of a child or children. Jail records show she was released on December 26.
Justin Lawson
An Atmore man was arrested December 23 for drug possession and public intoxication after police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a Wilson Avenue residence.
The report was relayed to patrol officers around 2:05 p.m. When police arrived on the scene, the resident who reported the break-in attempt provided a description of the suspect, who was “extremely intoxicated.”
The suspect — later identified as 36-year-old Justin Lawson — was located a short distance away. Police reports show that Lawson was “stumbling next to the roadway” when officers spotted him. When they began speaking with him, he was “slurring and incoherent” in his responses.
Meanwhile, the victim was able to positively identify Lawson, and he was placed under arrest. A pre-arrest pat-down turned up an unspecified quantity of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Lawson was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center (ECDC) on one count each of possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication. Police said a burglary charge is pending an investigation.
Jail records show he was released on Thursday, December 26.
Willie Banks
A December 20 traffic stop led to the arrest of an Atmore man on felony and misdemeanor drug possession charges.
According to police reports, the traffic stop occurred around 11:40 p.m. on Martin Luther King Avenue because the vehicle’s taillights were not on. As the vehicle pulled over on Bragg Street the front-seat passenger ran from the vehicle.
The officer contacted the driver, Willie Banks, 22, and soon discovered more than 48 grams of marijuana, several grams of synthetic cannabis (Spice), a digital scale, and items used to package narcotics.
Banks was processed into the county jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. APD investigators are working to learn the identity of the passenger who fled from the vehicle.
Banks was released from jail on December 23.
Cadarious Smith
A Monroe County man, wanted on a felony warrant from his home county, was arrested December 19 after he led police on a high-speed chase during which tractor-trailer drivers on Interstate 65 helped box his vehicle in and allowed police to take him into custody.
Police reports show the incident that sparked the chase began around 8:10 when an officer on routine patrol observed a vehicle backed into a closed business parking lot, parked next to the business.
The officer stopped to investigate and contacted Cadarious Smith, 29, of Monroeville. As the officer checked Smith’s identification and found out that Smith was the subject of an active Monroeville Police Department felony arrest warrant charging him with first-degree theft of property.
Smith, realizing the officer knew about the warrant, took off in his vehicle, with officers in pursuit. Police said the suspect turned south onto I-65 and reached speeds well over 100 miles per hour until the helpful semi-truck drivers slowed down enough that Smith, unable to pass the rigs, was also forced to slow down.
The Monroeville man was arrested and is charged with one count each of felony attempting to elude a police officer (since the pursuit reached speeds in excess of 20 mph over the posted speed limit) and driving while license is revoked or suspended.
He was released, apparently into the custody of Monroeville authorities, on December 23.
Justin White
The combination of an unspecified moving violation and the smell of burning marijuana led to the December 21 arrest of a Flomaton man on felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
The traffic stop was conducted around 9:35 a.m. on Robinsonville Road. As the officer approached the vehicle to speak with the driver, 39-year-old Justin White, he “detected a strong odor of marijuana” coming from White’s vehicle.
That led to a probable-cause search that yielded an undisclosed amount of clonazepam, a small amount of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, and items used to ingest and package narcotics.
According to WebMD, clonazepam produces a calming effect on the brain and nerves, which helps to reduce anxiety and muscle spasms, prevent epileptic seizures and restless leg syndrome, and promote relaxation.
White was booked into the ECDC on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jail records indicate he was released on December 23.
Deontra French
Police arrested a 33-year-old Atmore man December 22 on felony drug possession charges after officers responded to a report of “someone appearing to be under the influence of narcotics” at a location along Lakeview Circle.
Police reports show that Deontra French “was speaking incoherently and was confused” as officers talked with him. As their investigation continued, they discovered French was in possession of small amounts of methamphetamine and synthetic cannabis (Spice), as well as items used to ingest narcotics.
French was processed into the ECDC on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jail records show he was released on December 23.
Hunter Leino
A Flomaton man — who could face additional charges — was arrested December 23 after APD officers were sent to a Canoe residence to assist county sheriff’s deputies in their investigation of a domestic violence complaint.
According to reports, city police were dispatched around 3:25 p.m. and were told by deputies that Hunter Leino, 25, was the offender. They also recognized that Leino was the subject of several active APD misdemeanor warrants.
A city detective in an unmarked vehicle saw Leino walking along U.S 31 in the Wawbeek area, and he reportedly took off running when officers in marked vehicles started approaching him. The foot chase ended when Leino entered a residence and was taken into custody without further incident.
While searching Leino, an officer found in his pocket a glass pipe that contained methamphetamine residue, and he was arrested on one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.
Charges are also pending further investigation by the sheriff’s office into the original incident in Canoe, as well as a burglary that took place in the Wawbeek community.
Leino remained behind county bars Friday afternoon, December 27.
Deaundra Thames
A Walnut Hill, Fla. man was arrested December 26 on charges of driving under the influence, and possession of a stolen weapon by a convicted felon.
Police reports indicate that a vehicle with no tag was spotted around 10:35 p.m. on Medical Park Drive. An APD officer conducted a traffic stop and noticed that the 47-year-old Florida man had “an odor of an alcoholic beverage about his breath.”
According to reports, Thames agreed to perform a series of field sobriety tests, which he failed. Then things got worse for him.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a firearm that had been reported stolen from out of state. Thames is a convicted felon from Florida and is forbidden to possess firearms.
He was booked into the county jail on one count each of DUI-alcohol, second-degree receiving stolen property and being a certain person forbidden to possess a firearm. He was not listed on the jail’s inmate roster Monday, December 30.