New task force nabs pair in drug bust
HOPE – On Thursday, March 15, at approximately 2:38p.m., Officers of the 8th North Task Force went to the residence of Michael Shane Thompson, located at 506 Hempstead 12, in Hempstead County, in reference to him having a felony warrant with the Arkansas Board of Parole.
As officers were about to pull into Thompson’s driveway from Hempstead 12, they observed Thompson working on some type of equipment, As they turned into the driveway, Thompson looked back and saw them and immediately began walking away from at a very fast pace. As officers exited their patrol unit they advised Thompson to come back that they needed to speak with him.
Thompson began to flee on foot north into the woods on the north side of the residence. Officers were able to catch Thompson about 150 yards from the officer’s patrol unit. Thompson was advised to place his hands behind his back and he refused to cooperate and kept wanting to turn around. Officers asked him one more time and he refused. Officers deployed a electronic control device (TASER) and hit Thompson in the back. Thompson fell to the ground and he was placed in hand restraints without further incident.
Other HCSO Deputies arrived on scene and transported Thompson to the HCDF where he was turned over to the on-duty jail staff.
Officers made contact with probation and parole officers to ascertain if they had a valid warrantless search wavier on file, because Thompson had just been arrested on their warrant and officers have received information that he was involved in the use, sell and distribution of illegal narcotics, as well as being involved in some large thefts. Probation and parole officers stated he was reporting to stay at the residence and that the residence, property and vehicles where he has access are subject to search at any time due to Thompson being on parole.
Officers made contact with a female, Beth Burton, as she came out of an old trailer house on the property to see what was going on. Officers asked Burton if she and Thompson lived in that residence and she stated yes.
Other Deputies arrived on scene to assist. Officers began conducting a search of the residence. During the search, officers located one clear bag of crystal like substance suspected to be methamphetamine lying on the bed. There was another cellophane wrapper that contained two individual bags of suspected methamphetamine. Officers located a black digital scale commonly used for weighing narcotics on a night stand beside the bed. There was also a small black box that contained several used hypodermic syringes commonly used for injecting narcotics into the body. Also, there was one exposed hypodermic syringe lying on the bed that contained an unknown liquid suspected to be methamphetamine.
Burton was placed under arrest and transported to the HCDF where she was turned over to the on-duty jail staff for booking process. Burton was charged with possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. She will be held for first court appearance.
Thompson was charged with possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing on foot. Michael will be held for first court appearance. He is also being held for the Arkansas Board of Parole on a felony warrant.
