BEDFORD— A disturbance complaint at a local park led to the arrest of a Branchville man on felony drug charges Sunday afternoon after police allegedly found methamphetamine on the ground near his feet.
Gavin W. Arney, 29, was taken into custody on September 27, 2026, by the Bedford Police Department following an investigation at Wilson Park. He faces preliminary charges of possession of meth with a prior dealing conviction and possession of meth at a public park.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer Michael Bell, dispatchers received a complaint at approximately 2:28 p.m. regarding two men and a woman in a maroon SUV who were reportedly screaming at children and suspected of being under the influence of illegal narcotics.
Officers located a red 2020 Hyundai Tucson parked directly adjacent to the playground equipment at Wilson Park, where several children were playing. Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Bell reported detecting the odor of marijuana coming from inside.
Police identified the occupants as driver Dustin Turpin, front-seat passenger Gavin Arney, and rear-seat passenger Tiffany Wigley. During the initial encounter, Turpin acknowledged speaking to children at the park, stating they were his and Arney’s daughters.
After officers questioned the occupants about the smell of marijuana, Turpin admitted to throwing a marijuana cigarette out the window. He retrieved the cigarette and handed it over to police.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle and its occupants, officers observed Arney acting nervous and uncooperative. While speaking with the group, Officer Bell spotted a small plastic baggie on the ground near Arney’s feet that had not been there previously. The bag contained a crystal-like substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
A background check via the Indiana Court Information Technology Extract (INCITE) revealed that Arney has a prior conviction for dealing in methamphetamine out of Monroe County from May 2025.
Arney was transported and booked into the Lawrence County Jail.
Second Arrest Follows Investigation
While searching the occupants at the scene, officers located a holstered .40-caliber Glock 27 handgun in Turpin’s waistband. Though Turpin was initially released at the scene, a subsequent background check revealed he had prior convictions for carrying a handgun without a license in Lawrence County.
Officers later relocated to Turpin’s residence on Sandpit Road, where he was taken into custody and booked into the Lawrence County Jail. The firearm was recovered and placed into evidence.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
