Outstanding warrant arrest leads to firearm, drug charges

Outstanding warrant arrest leads to firearm, drug charges

By Ken Childers

ONL Editor

A shotgun and drugs were discovered in a vehicle driven by an Okemah man after a state trooper arrested him for having an outstanding warrant out of McIntosh County.

Jerry Douglas Fish, 44, was arrested on Aug. 30 and faces charges of possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Fish has two prior felony convictions, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm. In 2012, he was convicted in Creek County for driving under the influence and in 2016, he pled guilty in McIntosh County court to second-degree burglary.

According to an affidavit, Trooper Ty Wallace was traveling on N3820 Road near E1080 at about 1:46 a.m. when he spotted a pickup bearing expired Texas tags in the roadway. The vehicle was facing north with its driver’s side tires near the center of the road. Wallace activated his emergency lights and shined a spotlight on the rear of the pickup and the driver, later identified as Fish, exited the vehicle and began walking toward Wallace’s patrol unit.

Wallace reported that Fish, who initially identified himself as Jeremy Michael Potts of Sapulpa, appeared to be “very disheveled” and had dilated pupils and clammy skin. When asked why he was parked in the roadway, Fish said he was showing his female passenger, later identified as Darci Arthurs, some objects in his vehicle. Arthurs told Wallace they had been forced to leave a nearby casino while they were waiting for cigarettes.

According to the affidavit, Fish stated that he had given Wallace a false name because he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest then said, “Don’t take me to jail, man.” After verifying the warrant, which was for failure to appear at a court date in relation to the 2016 burglary case, Wallace placed Fish under arrest.

Wallace asked Fish if he had anything illegal in the pickup, because it was being impounded and he needed to conduct an inventory. Fish replied that he had his “nephew’s little shotgun” in the pickup, which was recovered by Wallace.

The inventory yielded a green pill bottle containing a green, leafy substance and a clear plastic bag as well as a plastic case that contained a glass smoking device with white residue and a straw. Wallace then transported Fish to the Okfuskee County Jail, where he was booked without incident. Trooper Tyler James provided assistance at the scene.

According to the affidavit, Fish is set to be arraigned in district court on Thursday, Oct. 15.