In recent national and local news, the fight against the raging fentanyl epidemic continues to wreak havoc and make headlines.
Several filings by area law enforcement agencies have illustrated that the crisis has reached Beckham County.
A 30-year-old Foss man and an 18-yearold Foss man were released from the Beckham County Detention Center after being charged with possessing a synthetic controlled substance with the intent to distribute.
That “synergistic controlled substance” was allegedly fentanyl.
The two men face other charges as well. Miles Leethan Ray, 30, was released on a $20,000 bond after being charged with possession with the intent to distribute a synthetic controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.
Preston Quintana Badillo, 18, was charged with possession of a synthetic controlled substance, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of paraphernalia. His bond was $30,000.
The investigation began at approximately 3 am on August 24 when an Elk City Police Department officer was on patrol on the 2700 block of E. Highway 66 in Elk City when he observed a silver SUV pulling a flatbed utility trailer in the Elk Run RV Park.
The SUV was reportedly traveling westbound toward State Highway 34.
“In my experience, I found this to be out of the normal behavior of the usual motoring public at such an early time in the morning,” the officer opined.
The officer reported that the SUV sped up as it neared his patrol area, pulled onto State Highway 34, and began heading southbound toward Interstate 40.
The officer was able to catch up with the SUV at the intersection of East Highway 66 and State Highway 34, at which time the officer said he was unable to read the registration or observe the passenger- side brake lamp.
“During this time, I also observed the rear windshield of the SUV to be covered or taped with a dark material that completely restricted the driver’s view. Shortly after passing through the intersection, I turned on my emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop for the above violation. The SUV slowly drove through the intersection and continued to ‘slow roll’ for approximately 500 feet,” the officer wrote.
As the officer approached the front passenger side windows, he said he could not see through the vehicle’s windows, even with his flashlight.
Badillo was identified as the driver, and Ray was identifi ed as the front-seat passenger.
Two passengers were in the backseat. Because charges were not filed against them, their names are being withheld.
The officer alleged that all four occupants appeared to show signs of “nervousness.”
The officer asked for other ECPD officers to assist. Those officers arrived quickly, according to the affidavit.
The four suspects were exited from the SUV.
One of the officers reportedly learned that Badillo was in possession of a firearm.
The reporting officer then went to the SUV and reportedly retrieved a “chamber and magazine loaded 1911 style Smith and Wesson SW1911 pistol.”
“Due to the amount of time it took for the SUV to pull over, the level of nervousness of the front occupants, and the reluctance to get out, I believed the occupants had concealed on their persons or in the vehicle evidence of a crime or weapons,” the reporting officer alleged in his affidavit All four occupants were placed in handcuffs. The reporting officer had also noted that he smelled marijuana immediately upon approaching the SUV.
“I also believed the driver and passengers to have been smoking marijuana while the vehicle was being operated,” the reporting officer added.
One of the responding officers allegedly observed one of the passengers attempting to conceal a pipe.
During a probable cause search, the officers allegedly located a silver handbag behind the driver-side rear passenger seat in the rear cargo area containing a Mentos gum bottle, reportedly two blue “M 30” imprinted suspected fentanyl pills and two used syringes.
On the passenger side in the rear cargo area, an officer also allegedly located a cigarette box containing a plastic straw and a piece of foil, reportedly containing burnt suspected fentanyl residue.
“From my experience, I believe all the above items of evidence seized from the rear cargo area to belong together or to be jointly owned by the rear passengers,” the reporting officer wrote.
The officer added, “In the front driver and passenger area of the vehicle, hidden under the center console, I located an iPhone box containing a gold in color set of digital scales and a pack of rolling papers. I also located a glass methamphetamine smoking pipe and an AirPods Pro box, which contained a medium-sized plastic zip-lock style baggie containing suspected methamphetamine and several smaller sized plastic zip-lock style baggies. The medium sized baggies have the measurement 4.4 written on the baggie. In my pertinence, distributors of controlled substances will move product from larger baggies into smaller plastic baggies, weigh those baggies on digital scales, and then sell them to consumers. It is to be noted the AirPods Pro box has multiple words written on it to include the name ‘Miles MF Ray’ on the top and ‘Miles’ on one side.”
As one of the officers was preparing Badillo to be transported to the Elk City Police Department, the officer reportedly advised Badillo if he introduced any contraband into the jail facility, it would be a felony instead of a possible misdemeanor.
At this time, Badillo allegedly told the officer that he had a suspected fentanyl pill in his wallet. The officer retrieved the pill and gave it to the reporting officer.
All four SUV occupants were then taken to the ECPD without incident.
After the reporting officer completed his impound vehicle inventory, the vehicle was towed to a local tow yard.
“Once at the police department, it was decided, due to the circumstance and her child, that (omitted) would be released pending further investigation,” the reporting officer wrote.
The reporting officer conducted a field test on the seized suspected methamphetamine and allegedly received a positive field test for the presence of methamphetamine.
The evidence will be sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Lab for further analysis.
The same officer also conducted a field test on the suspected methamphetamine residence donated on the gold digital scales on a suspected fentanyl pill.
Both allegedly tested positive.
Badillo has a future court date scheduled for September 11. No future court date was available for Ray.
