On June 8, 2023, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance from the Probation and Parole Office, conducted an in-home compliance check on Joseph Johnson, 40, who is on active parole. Joseph, who is from Branch, is moving to an address near Ferguson Valley Road and State Highway 23 north of Booneville. They spoke with Joseph who was sitting in his vehicle and conducted a search of him and his vehicle. During the search, they found a set of digital scales with a crystal residue located concealed behind the radio in the dash of the vehicle. They also found a Ziplock bag located under the door frame panel on the driver's side of the vehicle that contained a crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamines. The substance was field-tested and showed a positive presumptive reaction as methamphetamines. The approximate weight in the bag is 1.10 ounces. Joseph was placed under arrest and transported to the Logan County Detention Center where he was booked in on the anticipated charges of Possession of Methamphetamines with Purpose to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with Purpose to Manufacture. There was also a sum of U.S. currency located and seized by an agent from 15th Judicial Drug Task Force. All contraband was logged into evidence and will be forwarded to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for further testing.

 

On June 9, 2023, Logan County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Investigator Howard Bates was driving in Paris when he saw Joseph James, 42, of Paris, walking near Main Street in Paris near where the old gas station was torn down. He spoke with James because he knew he had a felony warrant. James then ran across the field where the old gas station was torn down and crossed East Walnut Street into the Harps Foods parking lot. He then ran by the Revenue Office and Dollar General store. Some local citizens pointed out the direction he ran and with the help of the Paris Police Department, we set up a perimeter in the block between Academy Street and Fuller Street and put up our drone for overwatch. Joseph was located by Lt. Kieth Lunsford in thick brush in that area and was arrested. We found a loaded syringe, a small bag of a crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamine, his hat, and his phone where he was first seen hiding. The items were seized for evidence and the crystal substance will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. Joseph was transported to the Logan County Detention Center. Joseph had a felony warrant and a misdemeanor warrant confirmed out of Logan County and was booked in on the warrants and the anticipated charges of Fleeing, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamines.