BEDFORD — A series of traffic violations on a moped led to the arrest of a Heltonville man on multiple felony and misdemeanor drug charges Thursday, September 10, according to court documents filed by the Bedford Police Department.
Michael R. Simmons, 36, was taken into custody after a routine traffic stop uncovered methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, syringes, and drug paraphernalia on his person and in his backpack.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer J. Landon Jones, the incident began around 7:51 a.m. near 12th and R Streets. Officer Jones observed a black and red moped with inoperable taillights traveling eastbound on 12th Street. The driver failed to stop at three consecutive stop signs at O, N, and M Streets and made a turn onto M Street without signaling.
Officer Jones initiated a traffic stop at 13th and M Streets and identified the driver as Simmons from previous law enforcement interactions. When asked about his destination, Simmons claimed he was driving to work at Golden Corral, though he was heading in the opposite direction of the restaurant. Simmons acknowledged blowing through the stop signs, blaming mechanical issues with the moped’s brakes and wheels.
Noticing Simmons had bloodshot, glassy eyes, Officer Jones requested and received verbal consent to conduct a pat-down search. Inside a cigarette pack in Simmons’ front left pocket, the officer discovered two plastic bags—one containing a powder and the other holding a crystal-like substance.
After being placed in handcuffs, Simmons admitted to having a syringe inside his backpack on the moped. A search of the backpack by responding Officer Hatton uncovered:
- Three used hypodermic needles
- Two pieces of aluminum foil with scorch marks and burnt residue
- A metal spoon coated with a crystal-like residue
Field tests conducted at the Bedford Police Department yielded preliminary positive results for methamphetamine for the crystal substance, and positive results for both cocaine and fentanyl for the powder substance.
Simmons was transported to the Bedford Police Department for processing and subsequently lodged at the Lawrence County Jail. He faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of paraphernalia.
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.
