Drug arrest for man found lying on sidewalk at motel
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
The following felony arrests were reported by officers of the Atmore Police Department (APD) during the period February 13-23:
Daniel Sheets
The 45-year-old Atmore man was arrested February 16 on felony drug possession charges after police responded to a report of a man lying on the East Nashville Avenue sidewalk outside Southland Motel.
Police who were sent to the motel around 9:10 a.m. had to awaken Sheets. Officers asked if he needed medical attention, and he assured them he did not.
According to police reports, Sheets was “acting strangely” and “began emptying his pockets onto the ground.” The pills were identified as Clonazepam (used to control epileptic seizures and panic disorder).
Police also discovered a small amount of GHB (a depressant), and unspecified items commonly used to ingest narcotics.
Sheets was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center (ECDC) on one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication. He remained in jail Monday morning, February 24.
Nicole Jensen
Hollis Priest
The Fresno, Cal. couple, one of whom was wanted by authorities in that state, were arrested February 19 on felony drug possession charges after the vehicle they were in was pulled over for being driven with the headlights off.
While the officer was speaking with Priest, he “noted strange behavior and requested consent to search the vehicle.” The passenger, later identified as the 54-year-old Jensen, at first gave officers a false name and date of birth. Officers were eventually able to identify her and detain her after they discovered she was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant.
The search of the vehicle turned up a small amount of cocaine, several grams of methamphetamine, and several items that are commonly used to ingest narcotics.
Priest was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jensen was charged with being a fugitive from justice, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both Priest and Jensen remained in the ECDC Monday morning, February 24.
Darren Knighten
The 33-year-old Atmore man was arrested February 13 after his vehicle was pulled over around 1:15 p.m. on East Horner Street due to it having an expired tag.
Police reports show that Knighten, the vehicle’s driver, displayed “suspicious behavior,” prompting an officer to request consent to search the vehicle. During that search, police found a small amount of a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, along with various items commonly used to ingest narcotics.
Knighten remained in the county jail Monday morning, February 24, charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Anthony Jerome English
English was arrested February 23 after he threw a bag of pills and pot from a vehicle that was pulled over because it did not have taillights.
The traffic stop happened around 9:45 p.m. on Col. Farris Drive. Before the vehicle came to a stop the officer saw one of the passengers throw something from the vehicle.
The occupants were questioned, including the passenger in question who was later identified as the 27-year-old Atmore man. The object he tossed from the vehicle — a plastic baggie containing several dozen grams of marijuana and an unspecified quantity of Xanax — was recovered by a K9 officer.
English was arrested and processed into the ECDC on one count each of possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence.
He remained in the facility Tuesday morning, February 25. No mugshot had been posted to the jail website by Tuesday’s press deadline.
Rayvon Barnes
Barnes, 38, was arrested February 23 after police responded to a domestic disturbance at an East Ridgeley residence.
Police who arrived around 11:55 a.m. learned that Barnes had recently been trespassed from the residence by family members but had returned. He was taken into custody and a pre-arrest search turned up a small amount of synthetic cannabis (Spice) and items that are used to ingest narcotics.
Barnes was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and third-degree criminal trespass. He was released from jail February 24.
Amy Jo Nelson
The Daytona Beach, Fla. woman, who has prior arrests here for drug possession, was again caught with illicit substances in her vehicle after a February 23 traffic stop. The pullover took place on Howard Street around 12:55 a.m. after an officer noticed an unspecified equipment violation.
He also noted “suspicious behavior” as he talked with Nelson, who was driving, and requested consent to search the vehicle. The search turned up “numerous” loose amphetamine / dextroamphetamine pills.
Nelson was processed into the county jail on one count each of possession of a controlled substance. She was still on the jail roster Tuesday morning, February 25.