PHOTO: Six people were arrested Yesterday after being found in possession of OxyMorphone and syringes at the Rainsville City Park yesterday, while children were at the playground. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — On Tuesday, June 6, at approximately 5:15 pm, a detective with the Rainsville Police Department responded to a call of possible drug activity in the Rainsville City Park.
At the time of the incident, the park was crowded, with countless children playing in the park. When the detective arrived, he observed Gloria Patterson of Powell acting suspicious around the public bathroom, right next to the playground.
The detective contacted the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, who called out their K-9 Yogi to the scene. Upon conducting an open-air sniff around the suspect’s vehicle, the K-9 indicated that their were narcotics present.
After searching the vehicle, officers found OxyMorphone (opiate) and syringes. The group of people also had a small child in their custody.
Officers arrested Eddie Matthew Benefield of Geraldine, LeBron Farmer of Dawson, John Lamar Whitmire of Rainsville, and James Kevin Stephens of Fyffe were all charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Gloria Patterson and LaKreisha Jackson, both of Powell, were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. One other male was present, but was not charged as of the time of this report.
Benefield, Farmer, Whitmire, and Stephens were released on bail, while Patterson and Jackson are awaiting transfer to the DeKalb County Jail. The child was released to the custodial parent after the arrests.
Rainsville Police Chief Kevin Smith said, “The Rainsville Police Department is tirelessly working to combat narcotics in this city, especially in our parks and schools.”
