Traffic Stop Leads to Meth Bust

Items seized during a July 8 methamphetamine bust.

A traffic stop on July 8 resulted in a "major methamphetamine seizure" and the arrest of two individuals, according to Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane.

Sequoyah County Deputy Justin Smithson was on patrol near the Akins community when he witnessed a vehicle driving erratically. At one point the vehicle left the highway and drove into the ditch. Smithson initiated a traffic stop and discovered that the driver was an underage male.

Smithson observed what appeared to be a glass smoking device, with white powdery residue in it, sticking out of the front pocket of the male passenger in the vehicle. While arresting the passenger, who was identified as Anthony Riddle, Smithson also found a baggie that contained a large amount of white crystalline substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. After weighing this substance, Smithson found that it weighed over 20 grams, and then charged the male with Trafficking CDS (methamphetamine).

Smithson contacted the Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding the juvenile male operating the vehicle and "being with a male that was being charged with trafficking meth." DHS  officials requested that a deputy accompany them to perform a safety and welfare check at the home where the juvenile and Riddle lived, off Highway 101 near Central High road. 

While at this residence, Deputy Tyler White found the mother of the juvenile along with two other younger juveniles in the home. The DHS worker and Deputy White saw that the home was very filthy, and possibly unhealthy for the children. White also observed a large baggie that contained a white crystalline/powder substance sitting on a nightstand in the bedroom. 

Deputy White then removed everyone from the residence and called an investigator to write a search warrant for the home. An investigator with the Sequyoh County Sheriff's Office, Chris Grizzle, then wrote a search warrant for the home so deputies could further their search for narcotics and/or weapons. 

During the search, deputies found additional baggies which contained a white crystalline/powdery substance.  Digital scales, smoking devices, three firearms, ammunition, and a large amount of U.S. currency were also discovered. 

The children were placed in DHS custody and the mother was arrested. 

Arrested in the incident were Anthony Riddle, 30, of Stilwell, and Amy Littledeer, 35, of Sallisaw. 

Sheriff Lane said this is “just another example of proactive policing and relentless pursuit of drug dealers, by being extra observant."

"Deputy Smithson turned a simple traffic stop into a major methamphetamine seizure. Our deputies and investigators are going to keep the pressure on these drug dealers until they either quit what they’re doing, go to jail, or move out of our county," Lane added.

KXMX News Staff 

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