by Wes Harris
A Farmerville man was arrested last week after a drug detection dog of the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office sniffed out methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Jeremy Clinton Winter, 50, was arrested following a traffic stop and subsequent search of a Union Parish residence.
UPSO said on September 30, at about 10:15 p.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop in the Point community of Downsville after observing a vehicle repeatedly weaving over the center and fog lines of La. Highway 552. Deputies soon learned one of the passengers had active warrants.
UPSO K-9 Draco alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics coming from the vehicle. A search resulted in deputies locating several bags containing suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Deputies located approximately 12.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine inside the vehicle.
As the investigation continued, narcotics investigators developed information indicating Winter was working with another individual who provided transportation to obtain illegal narcotics from outside Union Parish for the purpose of distribution. The investigation led deputies to obtain a search warrant for a residence in the Crossroads community of Farmerville.
During the execution of the search warrant, deputies located additional suspected narcotics, scales, packaging materials, suspected drug ledgers, cash, and other items commonly associated with the distribution of illegal narcotics. Field testing of the suspected narcotics produced a positive indication of the presence of fentanyl.
In total, deputies seized more than $2,300 in cash during the investigation.
As a result of this investigation, Winter was arrested and booked into the Union Parish Detention Center for Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II Narcotics, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II Narcotics, and Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl.
Winter’s bail was set by a Third District judge at $445,000.
The passenger in the vehicle, Amber Nicole Quimby, 41, of Wilmot, AR was arrested as a fugitive from another jurisdiction and Failure to Appear for Drug Court, based on the original charges of Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substances.
UPSO said the case remains under investigation and additional arrests are expected.
