A Mountain Home man, 46-year-old Russell Cleland, was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond involving nine drug and firearms felony charges and released Tuesday. The charges follow the execution of two search warrants in Mountain Home, one netting just over a half pound of methamphetamine.
Fourteenth Judicial District Drug Task Force Coordinator/Commander Robert Braden says while the seizure was not a record amount, it is a large amount for the western side of the four-county district that includes Baxter, Marion, Boone and Newton counties.
According to the arrest affidavit, the seizure follows a traffic violation stop by Mountain Home Police officers on April 25. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of approximately one-fourth gram of methamphetamine, along with a glass smoking device and over $500 in cash. Also found were several receipts where quantities of money had been sent out of state. These receipts coincided with information investigators had received involving drug trafficking.
The following day, investigators executed a search warrant at Russell Cleland’s residence at 527 Spring Street in Mountain Home. Officers seized over eight grams of methamphetamine, along with numerous syringes and other drug paraphernalia. Digital scales were also found indicating the sale of methamphetamine. Offices also seized two handguns with the serial numbers removed and over $1,200 in cash.
Information from this search warrant led to a second search warrant at 68 Sherwood Hills Drive in rural Mountain Home later on April 26. At the second residence, offices found approximately seven pounds of marijuana in vacuum sealed bags. Also found was a lock box type container with approximately 279 grams of methamphetamine. A coat on the floor held a portion of the marijuana and a $100 bill.
Russell Cleland is charged with possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia with purpose to deliver marijuana, all Class B felonies; possession of a defaced firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia for use of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia with purpose to deliver marijuana, all Class D felonies; simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a Class Y felony; and trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with purpose to delivery, both Class C felonies.
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