According to Stone County Chief Deputy Dammon McGilton, on March 22, 2022, multiple members of the Stone County Sheriff’s Department and 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force were out working Drug Interdiction throughout Stone County.
On March 23, at approximately 1:50a.m., Chief Deputy McGilton and Special Agent Blake Cruz, with the Drug Task Force, stopped a 2002 Grey Chevrolet pickup on Highway 5 South near Bob Davis Mountain Road for careless driving. Upon making contact with the vehicle, officers smelled the odor of burned marijuana. Officers identified the driver as Tiffany JONES, age 36, of Redfield, Arkansas, and the passenger as Anthony BERENDS, age 31, of Redfield, AR. Chief Deputy McGilton and Agent Cruz recognized indicators that were consistent in drug trafficking. Probable cause to search arose and other officers arrived on the scene to assist. After further investigation, Chief Deputy McGilton located approximately 28 grams of Methamphetamine and a loaded 9mm handgun in the vehicle. Agents located a meth pipe and approximately 3 grams of meth on BERENDS.
Officers learned that Anthony BERENDS was a documented gang member, “Gangster Disciple” out of Pine Bluff, who is also on Parole with an extensive firearm and drug history. Throughout the investigation, officers learned from interviews that BERENDS and JONES had been transporting and supplying Crystal Methamphetamine to others in Stone County. Crystal Meth has a street value of approximately $3,000.00.
Anthony BERENDS is charged with Possession of Crystal Meth 10 to 200 grams with the purpose to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of firearms by a certain person, possession of drug paraphernalia, and being a habitual offender. His bond was set at $50,000.00 and he has a parole hold out of the State of Arkansas.
Tiffany Jones is charged with possession of crystal meth 10 to 200 grams with the purpose to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Her bond was set at $30,000.00.
Chief Deputy McGilton stated that it is a great deal when members of the Sheriff’s Department and other agencies come together to combat the illicit drug problem in Stone County. A special thanks to the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force and Mountain View Police Department for all their hard work and assistance throughout many of the investigations within Stone County. “We need to stay aggressive with these Narcotic Distributors, not only in our County but other cities and counties throughout Arkansas that supply our County”.