Paragould, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A Paragould man and woman are behind bars after police say a minor traffic violation led to a significant seizure of illegal narcotics.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Aug. 5, an investigator with the Paragould Police Department’s Vice Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to signal 100 feet prior to turning.
During the stop, Sgt. Jason Boling deployed K9 Koda to conduct an open-air sniff of the vehicle. Koda gave a positive alert to the odor of illegal narcotics, prompting a probable cause search.
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The initial search of the vehicle yielded:
- 121.4 grams of meth
- Three hydromorphone pills
- Five morphine pills
- 20 clonazepam pills
- Seven THC vape pens
- An electronic scale with meth residue
- Empty packaging materials
- $2,918 in cash
During the search, the passenger, 46-year-old Jennifer Heinrich, warned the investigator to be careful because she had needles on the passenger side of the vehicle. Officers located a pouch containing three syringes (one loaded with 10 milliliters of a clear liquid), multiple clear baggies containing a total of 9.4 grams of meth, and a 20-milliliter bottle of liquid labeled “morphine sulfate.”
Both Heinrich and the driver, 65-year-old Tom Lewis, were taken to the Paragould Police Department for questioning.
Lewis admitted to investigators that prior to being pulled over, he sold over 10 grams of meth and 30 milliliters of liquid morphine at an address on West Emerson Street. The affidavit notes that this address is within 1,000 feet of Paragould High School and a local daycare.
During her interview, Heinrich admitted to being a user of meth and morphine. She told police she helped Lewis sell illegal narcotics on the day of her arrest and other occasions by using her phone to communicate with customers. She confirmed she also assisted with the sale at the West Emerson Street address.
Both suspects are currently being held in the Greene County Detention Center on $100,000 cash/surety bonds, each. According to Judge Curtis Hott, both will be required to wear GPS ankle monitors upon release.
Lewis faces the following charges:
- Delivery of meth (Class Y felony)
- Simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms (Class Y felony)
- Possession of meth with the purpose to deliver (Class A felony)
- Two counts of possession of a Schedule II substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class B felony)
- Unlawful use of a communication device (Class C felony)
- Two counts of possession of a controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class D felony)
- Distribution of controlled substances near certain facilities (Unclassified)
Heinrich faces the following charges:
- Possession of meth, heroin, or cocaine with the purpose to deliver (Class B felony)
- Possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance (excluding meth, fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine) with the purpose to deliver (Class B felony)
- Use of a communication device (Class C felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D felony)
- Proximity to certain facilities – enhanced penalties (Unclassified)
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