BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested on a felony charge after allegedly being found with multiple plastic bags of methamphetamine.
According to the report in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Deputy Tyler Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, William Baisden, 37, was arrested Sunday, June 30, and charged with possession with intent to deliver, a felony.
Gordon had reportedly observed a white Ford Fiesta traveling east on Route 151 in Buckhannon.
The report said the vehicle made an extremely wide sweeping turn from South Florida onto Island Ave/Route 151. The vehicle quickly turned into Zickefoose Trailer Court as Gordon initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.
The driver was identified as Jamie Owen Strader. The report said Gordon observed Strader’s eyes to be red and watery, and he smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. Gordon asked Strader to step out of the vehicle and performed three standard field sobriety tests, during which Strader allegedly showed multiple signs of impairment.
Strader refused a preliminary breath test and was placed under arrest.
Upon searching the vehicle, Gordon located a baggie containing a small amount of crystal-like substance, believed to be methamphetamine, under William Baisden’s feet while he was exiting the front passenger seat.
The report said Gordon allegedly located two loose baggies containing a larger amount of substance believed to be meth and a purple tin in which there were six more baggies containing the same substance as the other baggies. Each baggie weighed approximately 0.75 grams, the complaint states.
The baggie under the feet of Baisden was identical to several of the baggies located in the center console. Baisden said he was the primary driver of the vehicle and the driver, Strader, had recently taken over control of the vehicle because Baisden was believed to be too intoxicated, the report says.
The substance was field tested and returned a positive result for methamphetamine.
Magistrate Kay Hurst set bail at $30,000 cash or surety.
If convicted Baisden faces confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years and/or a fine of up to $15,000.
