PARIS, TX - Paris Police officers and detectives were kept busy over the weekend with a series of arrests tied to burglary, drug possession, impaired driving, and an online harassment investigation.
On Friday, January 16, detectives arrested 19-year-old Chaselen Christopher Hamilton on a warrant for burglary of a building after locating him in the 1300 block of Sperry Street. The arrest stemmed from an investigation into a business burglary in the 1800 block of Bonham Street that was reported on January 13. Police say the suspect forced entry into the business and stole cash and other property. Patrol officers recognized Hamilton from prior contacts and worked with detectives to obtain a warrant. He was booked into the county jail without incident.
Later that day, officers responded to a security check in the 1800 block of Neathery after a resident reported an unknown man beating on her door. The suspect had left before officers arrived, but an officer later located him in the 1300 block of Clarksville Street. The man, identified as 46-year-old Jeremy Lynn Smith, attempted to evade police by entering a business but was detained. Officers noticed Smith was carrying a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. A baggie containing methamphetamine was found inside the pipe. Smith was arrested on two municipal warrants for possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear, and was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Also on Friday, officers stopped a vehicle in the 2500 block of Lamar Avenue for an equipment violation. During a consensual search, 19-year-old Amari Devon Edwards was found in possession of a cannabis oil vape pen. Edwards was arrested and booked for possession of a controlled substance.
On Saturday, police stopped a vehicle in the 2200 block of South Collegiate for another equipment violation. The driver, 19-year-old Jacob Brett Lashley of Bells, was found to have an open container of alcohol along with unopened alcoholic beverages. Lashley later admitted to possessing both a nicotine vape and a THC vape. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Due to his age, the alcoholic beverages were confiscated.
That same day, officers responding to a disturbance in the 2400 block of Ballard Drive encountered 30-year-old Fisher Kain McCoy, who attempted to flee. Officers located him in his backyard, where he tried to conceal a THC vape pen. McCoy admitted the device contained marijuana and was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
On Sunday, officers conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of Graham Street and encountered 45-year-old Barbara Jo Klutts, who was heavily intoxicated. Due to her condition, officers were unable to conduct field sobriety testing. Klutts was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Because she has two prior DWI convictions, the charge was enhanced to felony DWI, third or more.
Police are also investigating a harassment and blackmail case reported Monday in the 2200 block of Bella Vista. A victim told officers he was contacted online through Discord by someone claiming to be a female who requested explicit photos. After the victim refused and only sent a photo of his face, the suspect allegedly threatened to post a manipulated image online unless money was paid. The investigation is ongoing.
Paris Police Department officials encourage anyone with information related to these incidents to contact the department as investigations continue.
