A Baxter County woman, 43-year-old Casey Merriman of Norfork, out on bond on three separate drug-related offenses in two counties now has seven new charges following her arrest Tuesday. Online court records indicate Merriman has two open cases in Izard County and now has two in Baxter County.
According to the probable cause affidavit, officers from the Arkansas Community Corrections Fugitive Task Force were conducting a parole home visit in search of absconder Nathaniel Campbell along Rodney Cutoff Road.
When officers pulled into the long driveway approaching the residence, the 40-year-old Campbell reportedly fled into the woods.
The K9 team from the Arkansas Department of Correction’s North Central Unit at Calico Rock was called to aid in the search. However, Campbell was not located.
A search of the residence occupied by Campbell, Merriman, who is his live-in girlfriend, and probationer Jamie Southard was conducted. Both Campbell and Southard have signed search waivers on file.
In a hidden compartment inside the staircase of the residence, officers found an opened transdermal Fentanyl patch and a spoon bent in a fashion commonly associated with intravenous drug use.
In a bedroom shared by Campbell and Merriman, officers found numerous baggies commonly associated with the sale and distribution of controlled substances, methamphetamine and opiate residue and drug paraphernalia.
When officers entered the residence the faucet in one of the bathrooms was running, leading them to believe a controlled substance was flushed down the sink.
Also found on the headboard of the bed shared by Merriman and Campbell were approximately 37 pills identified as Alprazolan, a Schedule IV controlled substance, approximately 8.36 grams of marijuana and $461 in cash.
Merriman is facing seven new drug-related charges, including simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and possession of Schedule I, II and VI controlled substances with the purpose to deliver.
Her bond was set at $10,000.
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