Staff
Reports
A man who faced two misdemeanors wound up with a felony charge after he allegedly attempted to hide meth in the backseat of the patrol vehicle that was transporting him.
On the Sunday morning of Aug. 15 Clay County Lt. Bruce Moore and Officer Donovan Burke responded to Old Highway 64 east after receiving a report of a man going through rural mailboxes. The incident occurred at 8:52 a.m.
Jason Paul Ware, 45, of Peachtree was identified as being the person in question, according to a release from the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
When Moore and Burke attempted to restrain Ware, they reported that he became aggressive and resisted attempts to be handcuffed. Eventually Ware was handcuffed without injuries to himself or the officers. Ware was arrested for the misdemeanors of attempted larceny and resisting a public officer and was transported to the Clay County Detention Center by Burke.
While en route to the detention center, Burke noted Ware moving around consistent with him trying to hide something in the patrol truck. Once Ware was taken into the jail, Burke lifted the back seat and found a clear baggy containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
It was noted that as matter of practice Burke and fellow patrol officers search prisoner compartments of their vehicles before each shift and after every transport to make sure no contraband is present.
In addition to the two misdemeanor charges, Ware was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He was placed under a $10,000 secured bond.