Three people were arrested Thursday afternoon, September 5th, on drug charges when authorities served a search warrant at 1108 Hidden Hills Lane in the Hand Cove area.

     During a marijuana eradication operation, a spotter from an Arkansas National Guard helicopter observed plants from the air that appeared to be marijuana. A ground crew converged on the residence. Officers observed suspected marijuana growing in pots on the porch of the residence and saw additional marijuana inside the house through the window. Officers also observed through the window a quantity of glass smoking devices commonly used in the inhalation of methamphetamine.

     A short time later the people who reside at the residence, identified as JONATHAN MORGAN and CANDY CRAWFORD, pulled into the driveway.   Officers confronted them with the evidence they had observed and asked for consent to enter the residence to continue the search. Consent was denied, whereupon a Circuit Judge issued a search warrant based upon the observations of the officers. The search warrant was then executed at the residence.

     During the search, officers found additional articles of drug paraphernalia including scales, plastic baggies for distribution, and smoking devices. A container was found with an undetermined amount of suspected methamphetamine. A tub was also found upstairs that contained a substance used to treat horses that is also commonly used to “cut” methamphetamine to add weight to it for sale. During the investigation it was learned that JONATHAN MORGAN is a convicted felon, and he had pawned firearms multiple times at a pawn shop in Mountain Home.

     While officers were still at the residence, another vehicle pulled up driven by DAVID BROWN. He was found to be wanted out of the State of Missouri for a parole violation and had a search waiver on file. Officers then searched BROWN’S vehicle. They found approximately 20.29 grams of methamphetamine in a nylon bag and also glass smoking devices.

     All three persons were arrested and taken into custody. They were transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked as follows:

JONATHAN CHESTER MORGAN, 38 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) with Purpose of Deliver y – Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Felony Possession of Firearm by Certain Persons (convicted felon) – Felony Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana) – Misdemeanor

     MORGAN has a bond of $35,000 on these charges and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer later this month.

     CANDY SUE CRAWFORD, 39 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) with Purpose of Deliver – Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Felony Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana) – Misdemeanor Driving While License Suspended - Misdemeanor

     CRAWFORD has a bond of $15,000 on these charged and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer later this month.

     DAVID WILLIAM BROWN, 42 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) – Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Felony Parole Violation – Missouri Warrant

     BROWN has a bond of $15,000 on these charges, but is being held without bond awaiting extradition to Missouri on the parole violation. He also will appear before the Circuit Court to answer later this month.

     Agencies participating in these arrests included the Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Game and Fish, and the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

/s/ John F. Montgomery, Baxter County Sheriff