Three Suspects Prompt Drug Investigation

The arrest of three men Sunday led to the recovery of two vehicles that had been reported stolen and an expanded investigation into possible drug running.

Sheriff Ron Lockhart said the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department received a report from the Fort Smith Police Department about a stolen vehicle on Sunday.

“We located the vehicle in the westbound rest area (on Interstate 40),” Lockhart reported.

In fact, the sheriff’s department recovered two stolen vehicles, a 2015 BMW and a 2009 Buick, both at the westbound rest area on I-40.

Arrested at the rest area were Melvin Alexander, 46, of Oklahoma City, Karl Weis, 38, of Frederick, and Bert Woodring Jr., 40. No home town was listed for Woodring.

Woodring and Alexander were charged Tuesday in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw, with two counts each of knowingly concealing stolen property in relation to the two stolen vehicles. Weis was charged with one count of knowingly concealing stolen property in relation to the Buick.

When questioned by deputies, Weis also directed them to a nearby trash can where he said the vehicle keys were located. The deputies found the keys and also found a Taurus .25-caliber handgun and a box of Remington .25-caliber bullets which matched the bullets in the firearm.

Lockhart said, “We suspect they were running dope in the stolen vehicles.”

Lockhart said the case has been turned over to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs for further investigation. Additional charges against the three suspects will depend on the outcome of the investigation, he said.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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