Routine patrol leads to drug bust at Carl Elliott Heights

HALEYVILLE  -  A routine patrol in the area of Carl Elliott Heights apartments on Newburg Road led to the finding of methamphetamine, marijuana and the arrest of a Haleyville man.
“While patrolling in the area, we noticed an individual we knew that was possibly involved in drugs,” noted Winston County Sheriff’s Investigator Jacob Eward.
The suspect was identified as Christian Alexander Studdard, 23, of 106 Walker Drive, Haleyville, charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia, Eward said.
Studdard was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Winston County Jail, Double Springs, he noted.
Studdard had first been spotted outside the apartments at Carl Elliott Heights. “He was sitting in the vehicle when we first came,” said Eward, describing the vehicle as a dark gray Ford F-150 pickup.
“As soon as he saw us, he exited the vehicle. He walked over to a parked vehicle and opened the door and threw something inside the vehicle,” Eward said. “That’s when we made contact with him.”
Sheriff’s officials asked Studdard if he had any illegal substance on his person, to which the suspect responded no, but consented to a search, according to Eward.
Authorities found two Norco pills in a plastic bag in his front left pocket, Eward said. The Chevrolet Citation, into which Studdard had reportedly thrown a suspicious object, was searched, Eward continued.
“As soon as we opened the passenger side door, we saw a set of digital scales in the front passenger seat,” he said.
A continued search of the vehicle also found a small black bag containing separate plastic bags, one holding  about 1.25 grams of marijuana, another bag holding  approximately 2.69 grams of crystal meth, Edward said after weighing the substances on the set of electronic scales.
Inside a backpack found in the back seat of the Citation were needles and individual plastic bags, Eward said.
“It just goes to show there is a drug issue in Winston County,” said Eward, “and we’re working very hard to eliminate that drug problem.”
*When a defendant is charged with a crime, the charge is merely an accusation until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.