Wrong Number, Suspicious Circumstances Lead to Drug Arrests

Both Brownwood and Early Police Departments were able to secure several drug related arrests recently by being alert and investigating suspicious circumstances, along with a little luck when one suspect dialed a wrong number – that of a police officer.

Brownwood Police netted a drug arrest on Wednesday, according to BPD officials, after a suspect dialed a Brownwood narcotics officer’s cell phone by mistake, offering him a chance to purchase drugs.   Officials state that the male caller left a message stating that he had prescription drugs which he was willing to sell.  In an undercover effort, the officer made arrangements to meet with the caller.

The suspect, identified as 51-year-old James Dunn, was accompanied by his wife, 64-year-old Bertha Dunn when they met the officer at the former Food Plaza building on Belle Plain.  The solicitors wanted to trade the prescription drugs for marijuana, police said.

Assisted by Brown County Sheriff’s investigators and Brownwood patrol officers, the BPD narcotics officer arrested the couple and charged them with two counts of Delivery of a Dangerous Drug.

In an unrelated incident, a report of a suspicious person was investigated in the 300 block of Early Blvd on Saturday by Early Police.  According to the report, the individual, identified as Casey Hardy (pictured at left), told police that she was from New Mexico.  While the officer was talking with her, it was noted that she was attempting to conceal something in her shirt the report states.  After refusing the officer’s attempt to check her for weapons, the officer along with a Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy restrained Hardy and located an uncapped syringe which was believed to have been used for methamphetamine, stated officials.  Hardy was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and search.  The syringe has been sent to the DPS crime lab for testing.

In a separate incident Sunday, an Early Police officer stopped a suspicious vehicle at Cousin’s convenience store in Early.  The vehicle, a 1997 Ford pickup, was pulling a 2011 model 16-foot flat bed trailer with car ramps on it.  According to the report, when the officer asked the two male occupants to exit the vehicle, they claimed the driver’s side door could not be opened, and both exited the passenger door.  The occupants were identified as Brandon Hooper and Steven Patton.

While investigating further, the officer noticed that the steering column had been damaged, causing the officer to believe that the vehicle could possibly be stolen, the police report states.  In an attempt to get the vehicle identification number, the officer said that they tried to open the door, which opened with no problem.  As the door opened, a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine fell out into the assisting Brown County Sheriff’s deputy’s hands, the report states.

Both subjects were detained for further investigation and had conflicting stories, according to authorities.  They told the officer that they were coming from San Saba and headed to Austin, but got lost at Abilene.  Police said that neither man could give straight answers regarding the trailer.

Hooper and Patton were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance due to the meth pipe still containing methamphetamine.  The following day, Monday, the trailer was found to have been stolen from San Saba County and at the time of the theft, had been loaded with cattle panels.  When Hooper and Patton were arrested, the trailer was empty.  The investigation is ongoing.