On August 15th, 2024, Izard County Deputy J Barnes made a traffic stop on a Ford pick-up that did not have functioning brake lights. The driver was identified as Cory Stone. Deputy Barnes could smell the odor of marijuana, and he asked Stone if there was marijuana in the vehicle and he stated no. Barnes observed pipe, commonly used to smoke marijuana, on the dash. Other passengers were in the vehicle and asked to exit. One of the passengers produced a glass smoking pipe with a white crystal residue.
Deputy Barnes asked if there was anything in the vehicle and Stone admitted there was marijuana in the vehicle. Deputy Barnes conducted a free air sniff with K-9 Csomo around the vehicle. K-9 Csomo alerted on the driver’s side door. During the search of the vehicle Barnes located plastic baggie with a white crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamine along with a plastic container with a green leafy substance inside that appeared to be marijuana.
During a post Miranda interview, the passenger stated they were asked to hide the pipe for Stone, that it was not theirs. During a post Miranda interview with Stone, he admitted the methamphetamine, marijuana, and the glass pipe that the other passenger had was his. Stone stated he asked the other passenger to hide the pipe for him.
As a result, Cory Stone, 46 of Salem, was charged in the Izard County Circuit Court with possession of a controlled substance (schedule II), possession of a controlled (schedule VI), and possession of drug paraphernalia.