19 charged with drug-related crimes in one week

Apr. 13—Between arrests made by the Decatur Police Department and the Morgan County Sheriff's Office this week, at least 19 people were arrested and charged with drug-related crimes.

The alleged crimes range from trafficking cocaine or meth to simple possession of marijuana.

"Illegal drug use destroys lives, families and communities," said Sheriff Ron Puckett. "Our Drug Enforcement Unit continues to seek out those that participate in trafficking and distributing life-stealing drugs like meth, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin."

MCSO said they conducted a "narcotics and warrant roundup" on Wednesday. In addition to those arrested on fresh drug charges, several others were also arrested for failing to appear in court.

Arrest warrants were issued in April for drug-related crimes dating as far back as August, court records show.

Decatur residents Marcus Cortez McDay, 44, and Vickie Elaine Peterson, 58, for example, allegedly sold cocaine to a confidential informant (CI) in August and September of last year.

MCSO's Drug Enforcement Unit provided the informant with "official advanced funds" and an audio/video recording device, according to an investigator's affidavit.

"The CI traveled to Peterson's residence where she was picked up," the affidavit reads. "The CI and Peterson traveled to McDay's mother's residence. Upon arrival, the CI provided Peterson the (money), and Peterson met McDay on the front porch of the residence. A short time later ... Peterson provided the presumed crack cocaine to the CI."

Arrests warrants were issued for McDay and Peterson on Wednesday and they were arrested shortly after lunch, jail records show. Each was charged with three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, a Class B felony, and remained in Morgan County Jail on Friday. McDay is being held without bond, while Peterson is being held in lieu of a $15,000 bond.

Peterson previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine in 2007 and 2017, court records show. McDay, who has numerous possession charges, pleaded guilty to four counts of selling cocaine in 1998 and one count in 2015. For the 2015 charge, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Confidential informants were used to facilitate other drug arrests, too.

Investigators used a CI to purchase meth from Don Shelton Brown II, 52, in the 1800 block of Center Springs Road in Somerville on March 5, according to an investigator's affidavit. An arrest warrant for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance was issued for Brown on April 3, and he was arrested on Wednesday. He remained in Morgan County Jail on Friday in lieu of a $5,000 bond, jail records show.

Brown pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in 2019 and was given a two-year suspended sentence, according to court records. In 2005, he was charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance before that charge was ultimately dropped in 2008.

A CI allegedly purchased meth from Antonie Tyrone Scruggs, 45, in January, according to an investigator's affidavit. Scruggs was booked into Morgan County Jail after an arrest warrant for drug trafficking was issued on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was released from jail on a $10,000 bond, jail records show.

Dewey Wayne Bishop, 42, allegedly handed deputies a bag containing 44 grams of meth during a traffic stop in December, according to an investigator's affidavit. An arrest warrant for drug trafficking was issued for Bishop in January, and he was booked into Morgan County Jail on Wednesday, jail records show. He remained there Friday in lieu of a $10,300 bond. Court records show Bishop has numerous prior possession charges.

Daniel Neal Stover, 38, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a 2022 raid on a Decatur residence by the North Alabama Drug Task Force, according to an investigator's affidavit.

When investigators searched a home in the 700 block of Vine Street Northwest, "Stover was found to be in possession of 182.9 grams of cocaine," the affidavit reads.

Stover, charged with drug trafficking, was released from jail on Thursday on a $5,000 bond, jail records show. Stover has prior possession charges, according to court records, and in 2010 pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He was given a 12-year suspended sentence and three years of imprisonment.

Wednesday evening, as deputies observed traffic entering and leaving the parking lot of a Marathon gas station, the license plate of a Hyundai SUV was flagged for its driver having a revoked license and an active warrant, according to an investigator's affidavit.

Decatur police on Tuesday searched a home in the 200 block of Acadia Drive Southwest and said they found meth, marijuana and pills. Four were arrested and charged with drug crimes, including 25-year-old Brian Parker, who remained in Morgan County Jail on Friday in lieu of a $35,600 bond on charges of distribution and possession, according to jail records.

Tuesday evening, just before midnight, two Decatur officers stopped a man wearing a backpack at Rhodes Ferry Park and informed him that the park was closed at night, according to an investigator's affidavit.

Twenty-nine-year-old Daryl Leslie Powell, of Somerville, allegedly told the officers that he was homeless and that the backpack contained drugs, according to the affidavit.

"He advised that he found the backpack and gave officers permission to search it," the affidavit reads. "I observed a small plastic bag with a white powdery substance inside of the backpack."

The substance, weighing 0.04 grams, field-tested positive for meth, according to the affidavit. Powell was charged with possession and on Friday remained in Morgan County Jail in lieu of a $1,600 bond, jail records show. According to court records, Powell was sentenced to three years of probation on March 4 after pleading guilty to possession.

On Monday evening, Decatur police found 1.2 grams of a synthetic marijuana/fentanyl mixture in the center console of a vehicle at Popeye's at 1827 Beltline Road, according to an investigator's affidavit.

Ryan Joe Perkins, 28, was charged with possession and booked into Morgan County Jail shortly after midnight on Tuesday. He was released Wednesday on a $1,000 bond, jail records show.

Perkins was previously charged with possession of synthetic marijuana after Decatur police responded to an overdose call at a gas station on U.S. 31, court records show.

— david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.