A traffic stop led to the arrest of two men on July 18. Madill Officer Joshua Paul conducted a traffic stop on a black Dodge pickup at approximately 3:08 p.m. due to defective equipment.
The traffic stop began as any typical traffic stop would, Officer Paul approached the vehicle that had two male subjects inside. Upon asking for identification, the driver, later identified as Danny Clark, informed the officer that he did not possess a driver’s license and that it was suspended.
Officer Paul then inquired who the passenger was. According to the incident report, Clark said his passenger’s name was “Robert.” The passenger chimed in and added that his last name was “Matheson,” and he was 43 years old.
Officer Paul and Madill Officer Patton began attempting to run background checks on both subjects. Clark’s license was returned as suspended, just like the driver claimed. The passenger wasn’t so lucky.
His check came back with zero hits. The officers returned to the passenger side of the vehicle to investigate a little further into the situation. The passenger stuck with his story about his name being Robert Matheson and even produced a Texas Driver’s License that bore his photo with that name and birthdate.
With the license in hand, Officer Paul ran the information through dispatch again. Officers then discovered that the name the passenger had given them belonged to a deceased male.
Once Officer Paul learned this information, he had “Robert” exit the vehicle and placed him under arrest for Obstruction and Giving a False Name. Paul informed the passenger that they would fingerprint him once back at the jail and find out his true identity.
The passenger finally gave up and told officers his real name was Ronnie Beck. His background check came back with active warrants out of Johnston County, Okla., Grayson County, Texas and Collin County, Texas.
During the investigation, Beck informed officers that there was a backpack containing embalming fluid so they could dip their cigarettes into before smoking, and there was also a Oklahoma Highway Patrol uniform shirt.
Once both subjects were detained, officers began to inventory the vehicle. They found a clear bag containing a green leafy substance, and a small clear bag containing four yellow pills. These items were behind the driver’s seat in plain view.
However, the officers found more items that weren’t so easy to find. They found an additional backpack containing a green leafy substance, a bag of syringes, a plastic grinder, a digital scale with a crystal-like residue, and the bottle of embalming fluid.
The leafy substance tested positive for Marijuana and the crystal-like substance tested positive for Methamphetamines. The yellow pills were later identified as Diazepam.
Both suspects claimed the contraband belonged to the other, and they were both placed into a patrol unit.
An online search shows that Clark, a 37-year-old male from Kingston, has priors for Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Injury, Larceny of an Automobile, Receiving a Stolen Credit Card, and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.