A report last Thursday, Aug. 28, of a wanted fugitive at a western Vernon Township home, didn’t pan out for Crothersville Police Officer Zach Elliot. But while he was questioning Michael Hatfield, age 68, a resident at 10050 E State Road 250, on the whereabouts of the wanted man, Elliott reported he smelled marijuana.
Officers asked to check the residence for the fugitive and Hatfield gave permission. While in the house officers observed meth pipes. After gaining a search warrant for the house and garage, officers began their search of the garage where Sophia Thompson, 52, and William Sanger, 56, were staying.
While searching the garage, Elliott reported officers found four glass smoking devices with burnt marks and off-white rocklike substance inside, a black sunglasses case with a corner baggie, razor blade and a burnt dollar bill, an off-white rock-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Next to the bed’s nightstand police found two High Point handguns with magazines.
While he was not at the residence at the time, officers searched the bedroom of Michael Dewayne Engleking, 52, another resident of the house
Officers located a metal tub that contained several syringes, as well as numerous other syringes on the floor, two digital scales that contained an off-white rocklike substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, six glass smoking devices, two plastic tubes with an off-white rock-like substance on them that field tested positive for methamphetamine, a metal spoon that was burnt and bent containing an off-white rocklike substance, four prescription bottles with different individuals’ names on them, 22 white oval pills that were identified to be Tizanidine, a prescription only muscle relaxer, a white rectangle pill identified as Buspirone, a prescription only medication used to treat anxiety, an off-white rocklike substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, and a corner baggie with two paper like items that were believed to be LSD or acid.
While searching the bedroom where Michael Hatfield stayed, officers located four glass bongs that are used for smoking marijuana, two broken meth pipes a rolled joint with marijuana, and a piece of glass that contained and off-white rocklike substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as a glass bowl that contained and off-white rocklike substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
All evidence was collected for further testing, Elliott said.
Officers located Michael Engleking, 52, at a residence in Vallonia. Engleking confirmed he has been living at the residence west of Uniontown and described the bedroom where he stayed.
When Elliott told Engleking of what authorities had found during the search warrant Engleking responded simply. “Okay.”
All four were transported to Jackson County Jail.
Sophia L. Thompson, 52, was booked in at 4:45 p.m. and charged with possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Michael Wayne Hatfield, 68 was booked in at 5:38 p.m. and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance.
William Lee Sanger, 56 was booked in at 9:40 p.m. charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Michael Dewayne Engleking, 52 was booked in at 10:46 p.m. charged with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a legend drug, possession methamphetamine, possession of syringe, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance.
As of the Times press deadline they remain incarcerated awaiting their first court appearance.