A Brandon Township man found in possession of heroin recently in the township has been arraigned on a drug charge.
Stephen Grant Garver, 42, was arraigned on Sept. 10 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, narcotic or cocaine less than 25 grams, in front of 52-2 District Court Judge Dana Fortinberry. Bond was set at $25,000, cash surety, no 10 percent.
According to police reports, a Brandon deputy was on patrol around 5 a.m. on Sept. 10 when he stopped a vehicle on Red Bud near Cedar Loop for the driver not wearing a seatbelt. The deputy took the driver’s information and the passenger, Garver, told the deputy he had no identification. He told the deputy initially his name was Gregory Grant Garver.
The deputy learned the driver’s license was suspended and the plate came back with no record. While speaking with the driver, he referred to his passenger as ‘Stephen? and the deputy put the new name into LEIN, learning that Garver had multiple warrants out for his arrest.
While conducting a vehicle search, the deputy found a small black bag under the passenger seat that contained two prescription drug bottles with Garver’s name on them. Also in the bag was $32 in cash and a plastic bag with nine unused syringes. A side pocket of the bag contained a used syringe with a brown substance in the plunger cap, which the deputy suspected was heroin.
Garver confirmed the bag was his and said he takes prescription drugs for a back injury and anxiety. When he was asked what was in the syringe, he told the deputy it was heroin and it was his. He said he uses heroin for back pain. The substance tested positive for heroin. The deputy found more heroin in an envelope in the bottom of one of the prescription drug bottles. Garver told the deputy he forgot he put it in there.
A preliminary exam is set for 8:30 a.m., Sept. 22, at 52-2 District Court.