The Martin Police Department recently made two separate arrests on drug-related charges.

In the first incident, Clinton M. Laster, 31, of Obion County was charged Jan. 9 with schedule II drug violations and promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing.

In the second incident, Nathaniel D. Howard, 18, of Martin was charged Jan. 10 with schedule VI drug violations.

In the first incident allegedly involving Laster, Martin police were notified by the father of a registered vehicle owner that his son’s vehicle was stolen and sitting in the parking lot of CDS located at 455 Hannings Lane, according to an incident report.

Upon arrival, Patrolman Aaron Carter observed the vehicle sitting in a parking spot on the east side of the building, according to the report. Carter, along with another officer, then conducted a welfare check on the vehicle and with the offender who was sitting in the passenger seat.

Upon making contact, Laster told officers that the owner of the vehicle, Aaron Durshal, drove him and a man named Dylan to the location to have dental work done, the report said.

Laster then told officers he had been sitting at the location all day and did not have a ride home, the report said. Carter told Laster that he would give him a ride to the police station so he could call for a ride. A safety pat down for weapons was performed.

During the pat down, the report said, Carter located a knife in Laster’s right front pocket and a small clear plastic bag containing about 0.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

According to the report, Carter also found a white filter wrapped in a clear plastic wrapper with what was believed to be meth residue in the left front pocket. Also recovered, according to the report, was two packs containing nine pills of pseudoephedrine time release capsules.

In the second incident Jan. 10 involving Howard, officers observed him and several others individuals acting suspiciously in a red 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix in the area behind Suiters Gas Station, according to an incident report.

Officers followed the car to Huck’s Gas Station to speak with the individuals inside the vehicle. Patrolman Drew Vernon asked if there were any illegal drugs in the car and was told “no,” according to the report. Consent was given to search the car.

During that search, Vernon found two cellophane bags containing about 2.1 grams of suspected marijuana under the driver’s seat, according to the report.

Howard told the officer he was actually sitting in the driver’s side back passenger seat and that the drugs were his, the report said. Published in the WCP 1.17.13