BEDFORD – A traffic stop in Bedford on Thursday afternoon led to the arrest of William Carson, 54, of Vallonia, on multiple drug-related charges and for driving with a suspended license.
According to a Probable Cause Affidavit filed on April 24, 2025, Bedford Police Officers Jones and Bower were on patrol near 7th Street and Lincoln Avenue around 5:01 p.m. when they observed a red GMC truck. Officer Jones ran the license plate and discovered the registered owner was a female. However, officers noted that the driver was a male.
Further investigation revealed that William Carson had been cited for driving while his driver’s license was suspended, with a prior conviction, during a previous traffic stop involving the same vehicle in May 2023. Using his driver’s license photo, officers positively identified the driver of the GMC on Thursday as William Carson, and his driver’s license was still suspended.
Officers initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of 13th and K Streets. Upon contacting Carson, who allegedly stated he did not have a driver’s license, officers reported detecting the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. When questioned, Carson reportedly admitted to having marijuana inside his boot.
Carson was asked to step out of the vehicle and was patted down for weapons. A male passenger in the truck was also questioned and released after a consensual search yielded no contraband.
A subsequent probable cause search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a plastic bag containing marijuana, and a plastic bag with crystal-like meth residue, both located inside Carson’s left boot. Officers also found a sock that had a glass smoking device with crystal meth between the seats, a metal smoking device with burnt marijuana in the ashtray, and multiple partially smoked hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes.
Carson was read his Miranda Warnings and reportedly stated that he understood his rights, but denied knowing about the glass smoking device. He allegedly told officers that he had been driving the truck, which he claimed was his, but it was registered to a female for about a month.
Carson was transported to the Bedford Police Department for processing and then to the Lawrence County Jail. All suspected narcotics and paraphernalia were collected as evidence. The suspected marijuana was preliminarily weighed at 14 grams. The female registered truck owner arrived on the scene and was given possession of the vehicle.
Based on the evidence, William Carson faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and driving while his driver’s license was suspended with a prior conviction.
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.
