Suspect Flushes Evidence During Drug Investigation

Investigators confiscated 22 guns of various kinds during a drug investigation 

Friday near Gore. Four suspects were arrested during the investigation.

 Bateman

 Matthews

Moreno

Four suspects were arrested Friday during a drug investigation near Gore.

Arrested were Mark Duane Matthews, 51, of Gore; Nathen Lee Ellis, 32, of Sallisaw; Teresa Ann Bateman, 39, of Sallisaw; and Athena Nicole Moreno, 19, no address listed.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane said officers with the sheriff’s office, the Sallisaw Police Department, the District 27 Drug Task Force and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol served a narcotics search warrant at the home of Matthews, one and a half miles north of Gore on State Highway 100, Friday morning and found a small amount of marijuana, prescription drugs which tested as hydrocodone, and 22 guns of various kinds.

Chief Deputy Charles House said investigators suspected there were methamphetamines in the house, but when they entered the home, the alleged methamphetamines had been flushed down the toilet.

“He (Matthews) was outside and he saw us coming,” House said. “He has eight cameras on his house. He did admit to flushing the methamphetamines. We could still hear the water running when we entered.”

Bateman and her daughter, Moreno, were arrested in the residence and Ellis drove up while officers were at the scene. House said methamphetamines and a methamphetamine smoking pipe were found in Ellis’ pickup truck and he was also arrested.

Matthews was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of paraphernalia, possession of a firearm with an altered identification during commission of a felony and conspiracy to commit a felony. He was released Friday on a $10,000 bond.

Bateman was booked into the county jail for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm with an altered identification during commission of a felony, unlawful possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a tax stamp, and possession of a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $22,000 and she was reported still in jail on Thursday.

Moreno was booked for possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of paraphernalia and possession of a firearm with altered identification during commission of a felony. She was released on a $5,000 bond last Friday.

Ellis was booked for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of paraphernalia. He was released last Friday on a $5,000 bond.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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