Blotter Briefs

The following reports are based on arrests conducted with reports filed by Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County law enforcement from 7 a.m. Friday to 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and included:

Drug-related arrests

Ernesto Martinez, 39, of Sulphur Springs was arrested Friday 8:16 p.m. on a charge of possession of a penalty group one controlled substance in an amount less than one gram. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to stop at a stop sign bu not making a complete stop. Martinez was identified as the driver. During the traffic investigation, the deputy reportedly observed Martinez failing to make eye contact with him during conversation and appeared to be in a hurry. The deputy was allegedly denied consent to search the vehicle so a K-9 unit was requested to the location. While remaining on scene, the deputy asked Martinez if he had his wallet on him so that he could search it. Martinez allegedly stated that there was methamphetamine in a folded up dollar bill inside the wallet. Martinez was placed into custody and a probable cause search was conducted but did not locate any further contraband. The deputy advised Martinez of his rights and asked if he had any further contraband on his person. Martinez advised that no he did not. Martinez was transported to the jail and booked without incident. Bond was set at $5,000.

Cody Lee, 23, of Cumby was arrested Friday 9:55 p.m. on charges of possession of a penalty group one controlled substance in an amount between one and four grams and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation after failing to signal the required distance before a turn. Upon making contact, Lee was located in the passenger seat but was found to be the owner of the vehicle. During the traffic stop, Lee reportedly admitted that there were narcotics namely methamphetamine in the vehicle and there was also a .380 handgun was in the passenger side door. Upon searching the vehicle, the deputy allegedly located a glass pipe which contained a crystal like substance that the deputy believed to be methamphetamine under the passenger seat where Lee was seated. The deputy also located a baggie stuffed into the stem of the pipe that contained more suspected methamphetamine. Lee was placed in custody and transported to the jail without incident. Upon arrival to the jail, the suspected methamphetamine was field tested and indicated positive for methamphetamine. Bond was set at $20,000.

A Sulphur Springs man, 43, was arrested Friday 8:41 a.m. on a charge of possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia. The man was with a subject being investigated for theft at Walmart and reportedly had a warrant for his arrest which was confirmed. The man was placed into custody and transported to the jail without incident. Bond was set at $470.

A Como woman, 26, was arrested Sunday 11:48 p.m. on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair. A vehicle was observed driving south bound on Broadway street near Lee Street and was seen changing lanes without using a turn signal. Deputy Fite was the closest unit to the vehicle and made contact with the driver at the Joe’s Exxon at 1234 South Broadway Street. Fite advised the woman of the reason for the traffic stop and the woman allegedly became argumentative. Due to the woman’s behavior, the officer requested to search the vehicle. The woman reportedly denied consent to search and a K-9 officer was requested to the scene. The K-9 reportedly gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle and a probable cause search was conducted. During the search, officers allegedly located a pink container with a crystal like residue believed to be methamphetamine inside. Deputies field tested the substance and allegedly got a positive response for methamphetamine. The woman was secured in handcuffs and asked if she was concealing anything on her person. The woman alleged that she was not hiding anything and was transported to the jail. During the book in process, jail staff reportedly located a glass pipe commonly used for smoking methamphetamine protruding from the woman’s private area. The woman allegedly admitted to lying to the deputies and concealing the pipe. Due to deputies being in the process of a criminal investigation, the woman was charged with the above tampering charge. Bond was set at $10,000. Rene Grimaldi, 50, of

Rene Grimaldi, 50, of Pickton was arrested Tuesday 1:50 a.m. on a charge of possession of a penalty group one controlled substance in an amount between one and four grams. A vehicle was observed parked at the gas pump with a female subject slumped over the steering wheel. Hopkins county deputies made contact with the woman who was identified as Grimaldi and reportedly observed a baggie in her hand. When asked, Grimaldi allegedly stated that she had had a little marijuana. Grimaldi was asked to exit the vehicle and deputies reportedly observed some items hidden inside her shirt. The items were allegedly discovered to be two lighters and a baggie containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine. At this time, Grimaldi was placed into custody and a probable cause search was conducted of the vehicle locating additional drug paraphernalia. The vehicle was impounded and Grimaldi was transported to the jail. Bond was not set as of press day.

Alcohol related arrests

A Quitman man, 48 was arrested Friday 12:00 a.m. on a charge of public intoxication. A Hopkins county deputy located the man outside of the Hopkins county jail sally port reportedly attempting to look for a place to get warm. Deputies spoke with the man who allegedly advised that he had been consuming alcoholic beverages and was unsure of how he had arrived at the location. Communications advised that the man was reportedly a missing person. Officers arrived and determined that the man had left a residence nearby. The man was also allegedly in possession of several items that did not belong to him and officers deterring to be a suspect in a burglary of a motor vehicle report that they were investigating. The man was determined to be intoxicated to a degree that he was a danger to himself and was placed into custody. The man was transported to the jail where he was booked in on the charge. Bond was not set.

Terry Person, 67, of Sulphur Springs was arrested Thursday 10:12 p.m. on a charge of driving while intoxicated, third or more offense. Sulphur Springs officers were on scene at a location on Atkins Street in regards to a medical call. Officers observed a vehicle operated by Person allegedly collide with an EMS vehicle. Person reportedly appeared to have urinated on himself, smelled strongly of alcohol, had glassy eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. Officers attempted to conduct the standard field sobriety tests but Person allegedly refused to do them. Due to the refusal of the SFST’s and the other signs of intoxication displayed by Person, officers made the probable cause determination that Person had operated a motor vehicle in a public place while being intoxicated. Person was secured in handcuffs, seated in a patrol until and read a DIC-24 warning. After providing consent for the taking of a blood specimen, Person was transported to the ER where the specimen was obtained. Person was then transported to the jail where he was booked without incident. Bond was set at $10,000.

Cody Prince, 19, of Quinlan was arrested Friday 10:00 p.m. on a Dallas County warrant for violation of a protective order and violation of probation of a charge of assault of a family or household member by impeding breath or circulation. Prince was reportedly the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Upon running Prince through communications, it was determined that he had a warrant for his arrest. Prince was placed into custody and transported to the jail without further incident. Bond was set at $2,000.

A Sulphur Springs man, 26, was arrested Sunday 2:14 a.m. on a charge of public intoxication. Communications reportedly dispatched deputies to a call in regards to a vehicle stuck in the ditch in the 10000 block of Hwy 154. The caller reportedly advised that the occupants were actively trying to leave the scene in the vehicle. The man was allegedly standing outside of the vehicle when deputies arrived on scene and made contact. The deputies reportedly observed the odor of alcohol emitting from the man as well as having glassy, bloodshot eyes and spoke with a slur. The man allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol. During the investigation it was reportedly determined that the man was intoxicated to the point of being a danger to himself or others. The man was placed into custody and transported to the jail. During the inventory of the vehicle, the deputies allegedly located alcoholic beverages. Bond was not set.

A Sulphur Springs woman, 27, was arrested Sunday 2:14 a.m. on a charge of public intoxication. Deputies were dispatched to a location in references to a vehicle stuck in the ditch on state highway 154. The caller advised that the occupants were actively trying to leave the scene in the vehicle. During the investigation it was determined that the woman was intoxicated to the point of being a danger to herself and others. The woman was placed into custody for the above charge and transported to the jail. Bond was not set.

Adam Hamblin, 38, of Mt. Pleasant was arrested Saturday 5:28 p.m. on a charge of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under the age of 15 years old, a state jail felony. Hopkins County communications advised of a call via 9-1-1 text advising of a man driving while intoxicated with other occupants in the vehicle. The complainant sent a text advising “send help”. Communications advised that the complainant was giving updated location when deputies arrived in the area. One officer staged themselves near the 110 mile marker on ramp and observed a vehicle possibly matching the description given by the complainant passing their location. The officer got behind the vehicle and confirmed the license plate number. Due to the high number of other vehicles on the roadway and the information from the complainant, an investigative stop was conducted on the vehicle coming to a stop between the 108 and 107 mile markers. Hamblin was observed operation the motor vehicle and while speaking with him, deputies observed him to have slightly slurred speech. Hamblin reportedly insisted on exiting his vehicle to locate his insurance instead of reaching across and grabbing it from the glove compartment. Hamblin exited the vehicle and allegedly almost lost his balance. He appeared to be unsteady on his feet and was walking as if his feet were heavy. Hamblin was reportedly advised to stand to the rear of the vehicle while the deputy conducted their investigation. Hamblin consented to the SFST’s and the deputy reportedly observed multiple signs of intoxication. During the investigation, the deputy reportedly observed a child under the age of 15 occupying the vehicle. The vehicle and child were released with the mother-in-law on scene and Hamblin was transported to the jail. Bond was set at $5,000.

A Sulphur Springs man, 24, was arrested Sunday 11:58 p.m. on a charge of public intoxication. Sulphur Springs officer was informed by Hopkins County deputies that they were out with the man who was possibly intoxicated at 1234 South Broadway Street. The man allegedly displayed indicators of intoxication such as slurred speech, unsteady while walking and standing and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person. The officer requested the man perform the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus tests but was unable to complete the test due to the man failing to follow instructions. The man was secured and transported to jail without incident. Bod was not set.

Warrants, transfers

A Dallas man, 40, was arrested Thursday 11:32 p.m. on a charge of expired registration. Deputies reportedly received a call regarding a reckless driver call in regards to a silver SUV traveling northbound on state highway 154 in which the vehicle was failing to drive in a single lane. Deputies located the vehicle and observed it to allegedly have a defective head light, was impeding traffic due to more than one car behind the vehicle traveling at a slow rate of speed and had expired registration. Deputies conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, observing an open container of an alcoholic beverage in plain view. Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle locating no additional contraband. The deputy conducted an investigation for DWI in which the man was transported to the jail and the vehicle was impounded. Bond was not set. A Sulphur Springs man, 54, was arrested Saturday 12:12 a.m. on a Sulphur Springs warrant for a charge of drinking while license is invalid. A Sulphur Springs officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and upon running the man’s information through communications, it was discovered that he had an active warrant. The warrant was confirmed and the man was placed into custody for transport to the jail. Bond was set at $564.20. A Sulphur Springs woman, 22, was arrested Friday 8:49 a.m. on a charge of theft of property valued at less than $100 with previous convictions. A Sulphur Springs officer was already on scene at the Sulphur Springs Walmart and was contacted by loss prevention in reference to a person who had allegedly committed theft. The woman was identified and was told by the officer that she had a previous conviction for theft. Loss prevention said that the woman was allegedly scanning an item then placing it in a bag with an item that she had not scanned. The woman then passed all points of sale without the items that she did not scan. The woman was then placed into custody and transported to the jail without incident. Bond was $1,000.

An Emory man, 33, was arrested Friday 9:10 p.m. on a charge of driving without a license. The man was reportedly observed by a Sulphur Springs officer operating a motor vehicle and was known to be a suspect in a case of a stolen vehicle. The man pulled into the parking lot of Jay Hodge Chevrolet allegedly trying to return the stolen vehicle. The man’s identifying information was obtained and officers were able to confirm that the man did not have a driver’s license to operate the motor vehicle. The man was placed into handcuffs and transported him to the jail without incident. Bond was not set as of press day.

Toby Buie, 50, of Sulphur Springs was arrested Saturday 6:15 p.m. on a charge of driving while intoxicated and a charge of stalking, a third degree felony. Deputies responded to a disturbance at 573 County Road 4734 in regards to Buie being intoxicated and possibly discharging a firearm at the residence. While in route, deputies located the vehicle fitting the description drive by Buie and conducted a traffic stop based on the report made to emergency communications. Deputies made contact with Buie who was the sole occupant and operator of the vehicle. Deputies reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle and allegedly observed a rifle in plain view. Given the nature of the call, Buie was reportedly ordered out of the vehicle. Buie allegedly had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person and refused to perform the standard field sobriety tests. At that time, one deputy placed Buie in custody for DWI, while other deputies traveled to the address to speak with the potential victim. Upon arrival, deputies were advised by the victim that Buie was allegedly her soon to be ex-husband. The victim also advised that earlier in the day, Buie had allegedly sent her harassing text messages and driven by residence. The victim advised that she notified Cumby PD and requested extra patrol. The victim then reportedly traveled to another residence to get away from Buie but Buie continued sending threatening text messages and later located her at the residence. Buie then allegedly pulled past the residence and discharged a firearm several times from the roadway. Once at the jail, Buie reportedly consented to a breath specimen and provided two samples. Bond was set at $7,000.

A Como man, 51, was arrested Saturday 6:01 a.m. on charges of no valid license and no liability insurance. The man was reportedly operating a vehicle with no license, expired registration, no insurance, an open container and had allegedly been smoking marijuana. The man was placed in custody and the vehicle towed. The passenger had reportedly been drinking alcohol and was taken home. Bond was not set.

Hopkins County communications operators answered 1,057 non-emergency phone calls, 303 calls for service and 316 emergency calls. From 7 a.m. Friday to 5:30 a.m. Tuesday officers filed 12 offenses and conducted six special patrols, three funeral escorts and 95 traffic stops. 26 people were booked in and 25 people were released from the Hopkins County Jail which held 182 inmates as of 5:30 a.m Tuesday.