On Sunday May 19, 2024, Sgt. Ethan Wyatt of the Marion Police Department was called to the area of West Henderson Street and South Main Street, due to a male being slumped over in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Sgt. Wyatt located a white GMC Sierra truck in the left-hand lane of West Henderson Street at South Main driven by Mathew James Lewis. Lewis was asleep in the driver’s seat of the vehicle upon Sgt. Wyatt’s approach. Sgt. Wyatt detected a strong odor of Marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle and noticed a large sum of US Currency in the floor board, of the driver’s side.
During Sgt. Wyatt’s interaction with Lewis it was determined that Lewis was under the influence of an impairing substance. A search of Lewis’s person, produced narcotics paraphernalia. Sgt. Wyatt requested Cpl. Brandi Davis to conduct a K-9 sniff of the vehicle. K-9 Marsoc alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in locating 2 grams of Marijuana, 11.20 grams of Fentanyl, 21.10 grams of Methamphetamine, and 17.50 grams of Heroin.
Lewis was arrested and charged with the following violations:
- Driving While Impaired (misdemeanor)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (misdemeanor)
- Possession of Marijuana up to ½ oz. (misdemeanor)
- Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (felony)
- Transportation of a Schedule 1 Substance (felony)
- Trafficking Heroin (felony)
- Transportation of Heroin (felony)
- Maintaining Vehicle for the Use/Storage/Sale of Controlled Substance (felony)
- Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sale/Deliver Heroin (felony)
- Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sale/Deliver Schedule II (felony)
- Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sale/Deliver Methamphetamine (felony)
Lewis was placed in the custody of the McDowell County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.
The 2016 GMC Sierra Truck Lewis was driving was seized by the Marion Police Department, as well as $9,383.00 in US Currency
Authority: Allen Lawrence, Chief of Police
