Several Arrested After Drug Investigation

A recent drug investigation led to the arrest of five people and the continued investigation of a local hotel general manager according to Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

According to BCSO Captain Tony Aaron, on Saturday, December 14th at approximately 5:00 p.m. narcotics investigator Carlisle Gover was looking for a male suspected of methamphetamine distribution in Brown County.  The male, identified as 26-year-old Rodney Shane Howard was located in a vehicle during a traffic stop on Belle Plain.

Other occupants of the vehicle at the time of the stop were 26-year-old Abraham Dancy and 24-year-old Sarah Rose Neuse, the report states.  Dancy, the driver of the vehicle, advised that he did not possess a driver’s license.   After a short interview with all three occupants of the vehicle, the K-9 officer was deployed and a positive alert was made, giving probable cause for a search of the vehicle.  According to Gover’s report, Dancy shoved a methamphetamine pipe into the sleeve of his hoodie in an effort to hide it during the initial pat down.

During the traffic stop and subsequent search of the vehicle, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle, according to Aaron.  Because no one in the vehicle wanted to claim ownership of the narcotics and paraphernalia, all three were charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 equal or greater than 1 gram less than 4 grams and possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces.  Dancy was additionally charged with tampering with evidence and no driver’s license.  Howard was also found to have two outstanding warrants.

The investigation continued through approximately noon on Monday, with the assistance of other law enforcement officers including Captain Aaron, Deputy Terry Slider and Sgt. Vance Hill (CID supervisor).

Howard was known to be staying in a local hotel and when officers arrived at the room he was occupying, they encountered 26-year-old Jared Lynn Cook of Odessa who did not let officers into the room, according to Aaron.  Cook then vacated the room while law enforcement contacted the management of the hotel to gain access according to Aaron.

After accessing the room, it was found that Cook had left a bag behind which contained scales, packaging and other methamphetamine related items used in narcotics distribution, said Aaron.

Further investigation led the team of investigators to the LaQuinta Inn on Monday morning.  When speaking with the general manager of the hotel, it appeared he was cooperating with law enforcement; however, the more they talked, officers found that the general manager (GM) was not telling the truth, Aaron said.  According to Aaron, the GM is from the Austin area and manages approximately 10 hotels.

The GM did advise the officers which room Cook was staying in and Cook was located along with 25-year-old Meranda Delgadillo of Coleman, Aaron reported.

Aaron explained that the room was completely “trashed out” with pizza overturned on the bed, trash lying all around the room, and food stains throughout the room.  Through the investigation, it was learned that the general manager had used his authority to take approximately 5-7 random rooms throughout the hotel out of service, and allow known drug offenders to occupy them and use them for recreational purposes such as parties, according to Aaron.  As the other rooms were located, it was found that most of their occupants had left after being alerted by the GM of the investigation.

Cook and Delgadillo were arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 less than 1 gram and possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces.  Cook was also served a warrant for motion to revoke.

According to Aaron, the investigation is continuing into the general manager’s actions and for hindering an investigation and possession of a controlled substance.  The owner of the hotel was contacted and informed of the drug activity and the general manager’s actions.

Aaron stated that having a GM of a hotel involved was disturbing.

“To be a businessman manipulating law enforcement was what really bothered us,” said Aaron.  “It’s the principal of it.  Typically in our community, business men and women support law enforcement, but to come into a situation where someone was trying to mislead law enforcement in a narcotics investigation, is disturbing.”