Search for two suspects leads to five arrests

HALEYVILLE -What began as a search for two individuals wanted on outstanding felony warrants with the Winston County Sheriff’s Office turned into arrests of five persons in Haleyville on a variety of drug-related charges.
The Winston County Sheriff’s Office made three arrests at 506 7th Street Thursday afternoon May 28, before arresting the two individuals they were initially look for, locating them at the Imperial Inn in Haleyville.  Arrested at the 7th Street residence were Misty Nixon, 41, of Haleyville, charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia; Beverly Hallmark, 45, of Haleyville, charged with possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia and Andrew Anderson, 38, of Haleyville, charged with a felony bench warrant through the Winston County Sheriff’s Office.
The individuals arrested on outstanding warrants at the Imperial Inn were William Phelps III, 37, of Haleyville, and Brittany Kilpatrick, 31, of Haleyville.  Phelps was wanted on an outstanding warrant with the WCSO for distribution of a controlled substance.  Kilpatrick had two outstanding warrants, one for trafficking methamphetamine, the other for possession of drug paraphernalia.
The events that transpired Thursday afternoon took place after long hours of narcotics investigation, according to sheriff’s office officials.  WCSO Investigators Jacob Eward and Caleb Snoddy were searching for Phelps and Kilpatrick Thursday afternoon in Haleyville when they went to the 7th Street location.
“As we arrived, we noticed three individuals outside of the residence,”  Eward said.  “We had been giving information that the residence was a suspected drug house.  After speaking with the three individuals outside, we were given permission to enter the residence.”
Upon entering, Eward and Snoddy found 12 persons inside the residence.  Snoddy saw a meth pipe in plain view upon the couch.  Phelps - one of the initial subjects the sheriff’s office was looking for - was in fact at the residence, but ran out the front door, getting away for the moment.
Information was gathered for all persons present, and consent to search the residence was granted by the homeowner.  Investigators located four ounces of marijuana, 23 grams of methamphetamine,  several marijuana joints, a wide variety of drug paraphernalia and a loaded 9-mm handgun.  
Upon completion of the search and investigation, Nixon, Hallmark and Anderson were taken into custody and transported to the Winston County Jail in Double Springs.
Returning to Haleyville around 5:30 p.m., Snoddy and Eward discovered through an anonymous tip that Phelps and Kilpatrick - the two individuals they were looking for initially -  were staying at the Imperial Inn.  Winston County Sheriff Horace Moore, Winston County Deputy Jonathan Oliver and K-9 Officer Bojon met with Eward and Snoddy and formulated a plan to make the arrest.  They went to the Imperial Inn and confirmed that Phelps and Kilpatrick were there.  The officers then proceeded to their room, making entry finding Phelps and Kilpatrick and taking them into custody.
Eward and Snoddy transported the two to the Winston County Jail.  After searching Kilpatrick’s purse, Eward and Snoddy found five Suboxone strips and a 1/2 gram of meth.  She was then charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
WCSO deputies Tim Williams, Oliver and K-9 officer Bojon were thanked for their assistance on the case.
“Deputy Oliver and K-9 officer Bojon are always willing to help and assist with narcotics investigations, and their help is truly appreciated,”  Snoddy said.
Moore has a message for anyone who is using or selling drugs in Winston County.
“We are working hard to get drugs off our streets and even harder to keep them out of our community.  My investigators are working long hours, and I want to thank them for a job well done,”  Moore said. “My plans are to go after the buyers, sellers and users of all drugs, as well as those who steal other people’s property in our communities.  We are working together.  Great things happen.”
“I am very proud to get dangerous drugs off of the street and to continue to serve the people of Winston County,”  Eward said.  “We will continue to try to eliminate the drug problem in Winston County.”
“I appreciate the hard work and all the long hours the investigators put in.  The patrol deputies are working very hard, also  finding this stuff.  We have several cases going on across the county,”  Winston County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brett Rodgers said.
Moore asks that anyone who has any information regarding criminal activity occurring in Winston County to call the Winston County Sheriff’s Office 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 205-489-2115.

     
*When someone is accused of a crime, it is merely an accusation until or unless the person is found guilty in a court of law.