On May 15, 2013 the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kenneth Askeland, age 35, of Walnut Ridge
on charges of possession of controlled substance (marijuana), delivery of a controlled substance (Xanax),
possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing and resisting arrest.
The arrest came from Askeland sending a text to the wrong number offering to sell Xanax. The concerned citizen called the Sheriff’s Office and told deputies that some guy named Ken Askeland was texting them trying to sell Xanax.
Deputies went to the residence of the concerned citizen and got all the information from the text and Askeland
continued to send texts as the deputies looked at the phone. Askeland texted that he was to “zanned
out†to leave his house and for the person to just come to his residence to pick up the Xanax.
Deputies went to the residence in a truck. Askeland came out of the residence and when he saw it was deputies he fled. The deputies told Askeland to stop but he continued to run. Askeland then ran back into the residence and
deputies followed. Askeland was trying to hide Xanax in the couch and also tried to hide some
marijuana.
Deputies placed Askeland under arrest after a brief struggle with him. A search of Askeland found that he had more Xanax in his pocket. Also in the area were items used to smoke marijuana.
Askeland was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail to await a bond hearing.
