Two arrested on drug charges
BONNERS FERRY — On June 5, two arrests were made for possession of methamphetamines, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
At 4:30 p.m., Bonners Ferry Police Officer Mike Martinez followed a vehicle he knew to be registered to a person with an active felony warrant out of Bonner County, into the Conoco station, where he made contact with the driver, Jack Yeoumans, when he exited the car.
According to the police report, Yeoumans was not the driver with the active warrant; however Martinez knew that Yeoumans was on felony probation.
“Upon my approach, I observed the female, whom was still seated in the front passenger seat, to begin frantically placing items into her purse,” wrote Martinez in the police report. “In past law enforcement experience, people on felony probation will give illegal items in their possession, to other members of a vehicle or group to hold onto when approached by law enforcement.”
Martinez suspected this was what the passenger was doing, who he recognized as Julie Miller. According to the police report, Yeoumans appeared nervous and was sweating profusely, while Miller continued digging through her purse until Martinez asked her to stop.
Martinez then conducted a probation search on Yeoumans, while Miller was allowed to go into the Conoco, taking her purse with her. According to the police report, Martinez found a baggie with a white crystallized substance in Yeoumans’ jeans pocket, that later field tested positive for methamphetamines.
Martinez then advised Bonners Ferry Police Officer Brandon Blackmore to escort Miller outside along with her purse. When asked if her purse could be searched, Miller allegedly declined.
U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Granger was called in with his drug detecting K-9, while Boundary County Sheriff Corporal Dave Schuman transported Yeoumans to the Boundary County Jail. Martinez informed Miller that he was conducting a drug investigation and that she was being detained.
Granger advised Martinez that his K-9 alerted for the odor of a controlled substance on both the car and purse separately. Granger then conducted a search in the vehicle while Martinez searched the purse. No items where found in the vehicle, but the search of the purse allegedly produced several small baggies containing what later field tested positive for methamphetamines and marijuana, as well as other drug paraphernalia.
According to the police report, Miller denied ownership of the items, saying they belonged to someone else.
“I told Miller if she wished to tell me who they belonged to, I would be more than happy to assist in speaking with the owner,” Martinez wrote in the police report. “Miller shook her head no and said she did not want to do that.”
Miller was then placed under arrest. Martinez asked her is she had any illegal items on her that he may have missed, informing her that any such items transported into the jail facility, would result in her being charged with conveyance. According to the police report, she was informed of this again when reaching the jail, and both times she allegedly denied having anything illegal on her.
A search conducted in the jail bathroom revealed a baggie of marijuana on Miller’s person that she had transported in. Miller was booked for felony possession of methamphetamines, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and conveyance of articles into a jail.
Miller is scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on June 15, at 1:30 p.m. and her bond has been set at $6,000.
Yeoumans was booked for felony possession of methamphetamines and is also facing charges of persistent violator enhancement.
Yeoumans is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on June 15, at 1:30 p.m. and his bond has been set at $10,000.