Sheriffs’ Department Arrests 3 on Drug Charges

At approximately 5:20 p.m. on July 11 Cpl. Cleve Westfall and Deputy Bradley Pickens of the Braxton County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist a fellow officer. Deputy A.L. Groves who had executed a traffic stop near the downstream area of the Sutton Dam due to a darkly tinted cover over the vehicle’s license plate.
Deputy Groves identified a backseat passenger in the vehicle as Jerry Lee Stevens, 30, of Erbacon and determined that there was an active Braxton County warrant for Steven’s arrest. During a search of the suspect, Deputy Groves discovered what appeared to be drug residue in a clear bag.
Officers subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a set of digital scales which appear to have residue on them, a black pouch containing empty baggies, a baggy contained a crystal-like substance, weighting approximately 5.44 grams believed to be meth and a prescription bottle containing suboxone. The discovery led to the arrest of the driver, identified as Heather Dawn Bender, 40, of Sutton and Megan Marie Hayes, 35, of Sutton, a passenger.
Prior to being transported for booking Haynes told officers that she had contraband down her pants. Upon arrival at the Central Regional Jail a female correctional officer retrieved a blue container believe to contain meth.
All three were charged with possession with the intent to deliver and conspiracy. The trio were arraigned before Braxton County Magistrate David Singleton. At press-time they remain incarcerated at the CRJ in lieu of $25,000 cash only bonds awaiting additional court proceedings.