CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests:
Lonnie Joe Robinson, 45, of Tomahawk, was arrested around 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 on Route 40 in Inez on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), failure to produce an insurance card and an outstanding indictment warrant for first-degree bail jumping.
Deputy Jameson Wall said he spotted Robinson getting into his truck at the Adkins Mart on Main Street.
“I knew [he] had an active warrant for his arrest,” Wall reported. “I turned around and got behind [his] vehicle and witnessed the vehicle go over the center line multiple times.”
After initiating a traffic stop and taking Robinson into custody on the indictment warrant, law enforcement searched the vehicle and discovered a baggie containing a white, crystal-like substance under the driver’s seat, police said.
David B. Burgess, 51, of Louisa, was arrested Dec. 11 on Davis Branch of Middle Fork in Debord on a fugitive from another state warrant out of Jefferson County, Tennessee. Deputy Wall served the warrant at 10:59 p.m.
Marlo Vance, 70, of Dingess, West Virginia, was arrested Dec. 11 in Inez on a warrant from Martin Circuit Court charging him with possession of controlled substance first degree (fentanyl), possession of controlled substance first degree (methamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia – buy/possession. Deputy Billy Wells served the warrant at 1:52 p.m.
James Russell Howell, 35, of Beauty, was arrested Dec. 10 on Buck Creek Mountain in Beauty on an indictment warrant charging him with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), second-degree possession of a controlled substance (codeine) and public intoxication (excludes alcohol). Deputy Wall served the warrant at 7:33 p.m.
Lonnie Ray Jude, 48, of Pilgrim, was arrested Dec. 10 on Davella Road in Debord on charges of criminal trespassing third degree, receiving stolen property $1,000-$10,000, violation of air pollution standards and rules, and criminal possession of a forged instrument third degree.
Sheriff Kirk responded to a call to dispatch about two individuals in a maroon Chevrolet truck stealing the propane tanks and propane cage at the Dollar General in Debord. He located the merchandise and the truck on private property at 225 Davella Road. According to the police report, Jude previously lived on the property but had been told several times not to return.
Sheriff Kirk said Jude was burning copper coated with plastic and old clothing when he arrived.
Police recovered five full and 14 empty propane tanks along with a propane cage valued at $1,000.
Jude also had 12 one-hundred-dollar bills of prop money, the sheriff said.
Jason Kenneth Fields, 41, of Inez, was arrested Dec. 10 on Davella Road for criminal trespassing third degree, receiving stolen property $1,000-$10,000, possession of a controlled substance first degree (methamphetamine), operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Sheriff Kirk responded to a dispatch call reporting two people in a maroon Chevrolet truck stealing propane tanks and the propane cage from the Dollar General along New Route 3 in Debord. He found Fields and the merchandise on private property on Davella Road, where the owner had made known that no one was to be there.
According to the police report, Fields hauled stolen merchandise from the Dollar General in Debord to the property and unloaded it. Police recovered five full and 14 empty propane tanks along with a propane tank cage stolen from the store.
During the investigation, law enforcement discovered a white powder substance in Fields’ pocket, which Fields allegedly said was meth.
After Sheriff Kirk arrested Fields, he also discovered a loaded 38 pistol inside a purse in the Chevrolet truck that Fields was driving, within inches of Fields. A BB handgun was under the purse, Kirk said.
A female passenger told police the gun belonged to her.
Ruby Mae Chaffins, 50, of Inez, was arrested Dec. 10 on Davella Road on charges of criminal trespassing third degree, receiving stolen property $1,000-$10,000, theft of motor vehicle registration plate and possession of marijuana.
The police report states that Chaffins was on private property on Davella Road, where the owner had made it clear that no one was to be there. Sheriff Kirk reported that Chaffins’ vehicle was used to haul propane tanks and a cage stolen from Dollar General in Debord to the property. He said the truck had a plate from another vehicle. According to the police report, Chaffins also had a small amount of marijuana in her purse.