BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested Sunday morning after a traffic stop led to the discovery of suspected methamphetamine inside his pickup truck, according to a Lawrence County Police Department probable cause affidavit.
Timothy Spreen, 56, of Bedford, faces two counts of possession of methamphetamine, according to the affidavit prepared by Officer Augustus Hogan.
Hogan said he was on routine patrol at approximately 4:35 a.m. Oct. 11 when he observed a black Chevrolet pickup truck make a right turn onto John Williams Boulevard and move directly from the right lane into the left lane without signaling the lane change.
Hogan initiated a traffic stop after the truck turned south onto State Road 37. He identified the driver as Spreen, who appeared agitated and had visibly shaky hands, according to the affidavit.
During the stop, Spreen told Hogan there was a handgun beneath the truck’s center console but denied knowing of any drugs in the vehicle. He declined to give officers consent to search the truck.
Lawrence County police K-9 Officer K. Carter arrived with his K-9 partner, Boon. After the dog conducted a free-air sniff, Carter reported a positive alert for illegal narcotics near the front passenger door, the affidavit states.
Hogan then searched the vehicle. On the front passenger seat, he found a black container bearing the YETI logo that held a fake plastic can. Inside the can was a clear plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance. When Hogan removed the bag, some of the substance spilled onto the passenger seat.
Hogan said the substance appeared to be methamphetamine based on his training and experience. Officers collected the crystals, which later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The substance weighed 3.38 grams, including the plastic bags, according to the affidavit. The weight was measured using a noncertified scale.
During the search, officers also found a loaded Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun beneath the center console.
Spreen was taken to the Lawrence County Jail for booking and charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine.
The charges are allegations, and Spreen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
