Lufkin Police apprehended a Harleton, Texas man, 45-year-old Samuel Gideon on Wednesday afternoon following a traffic stop that resulted in the recovery of more than a pound and a half of methamphetamine. The incident transpired when officers received a report of reckless driving involving a silver Mazda 3 on U.S. 59.
Around 3:45 p.m. yesterday, Officer Zach Klein responded to the call, in which the caller described the Mazda 3 as swerving across lanes, nearly veering off the road multiple times, cutting off other vehicles, driving on the shoulder, and coming perilously close to colliding with two other vehicles, including a semi-truck.
Officer Klein located the suspect vehicle in the 3200 block of North Medford Drive and conducted a traffic stop to ensure the driver's well-being. The driver, later identified as Samuel Gideon, offered an explanation for his erratic driving, attributing it to the act of dropping his phone. However, a subsequent warrant check revealed that Gideon was wanted by Upshur County authorities for second-degree felony manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Consequently, officers took him into custody.
Following Gideon's arrest, Officer Klein requested the assistance of a K9 unit from another law enforcement agency. The K9 alerted officers to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
During a search of Gideon's car, a duffle bag on the front passenger seat was discovered to contain a significant quantity of a clear, crystal-like substance, which subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine. The bag weighed in at 1 pound, 9 ounces. Furthermore, the duffle bag was found to house 1.66 ounces of marijuana in two sealed baggies.
In addition to the outstanding warrant, Gideon now faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. As of Thursday evening, he remains in custody at the Angelina County Jail, with a combined bond amounting to $105,000.
