Preston County regulation enforcement discover medicine throughout site visitors cease for littering

Officers with the Preston County Sheriff’s Division discovered medicine and enormous quantities of money on Saturday after looking out the car of a person initially pulled over for littering. 

Sgt. S.R. Mitter with Preston County Sheriff’s Division acknowledged whereas patrolling the world of Market Road and Mitter Drive close to Newburg, she noticed two items of white paper being thrown out of the motive force’s aspect window of a car in entrance of her earlier than that car started drifting towards the left aspect of the street. 

In accordance with a legal grievance, the car had a short lived registration quantity, which didn’t come again when Mitter ran a verify of the quantity. 

The grievance additionally states the motive force, later recognized as Joshua L. Casteel, 30, of Morristown, Tenn., pulled over to the left aspect of the street and when the automotive stopped, he stepped out of the automotive, however it was nonetheless in drive. He then obtained again within the automotive to cease it. 

Mitter stated when she approached the automotive, the motive force had a container of moist wipes in his hand. Mitter realized the objects thrown from the automotive had been moist wipes and informed Casteel he had been pulled over for littering. 

Whereas Mitter was amassing the motive force’s license, insurance coverage and registration info, Lt. Mitter arrived on scene and approached the car on the passenger’s aspect. In accordance with the grievance, the lieutenant requested Casteel about some plastic that might be seen protruding of his proper pants pocket. 

Casteel then pulled a few of the plastic from his pocket, however ripped it leaving extra in his pocket. When he did that, Sgt. Mitter noticed a purple bag contained in the plastic. She ordered Casteel to present her the remaining plastic, which held two purple baggies of a white powdery substance. Casteel allegedly admitted it was medicine. 

After eradicating Casteel from the car for additional investigation, Lt. Mitter searched Casteel and located a considerable amount of money, all $100 payments, totaling $4,400. In Casteel’s pockets they discovered an extra $20, an empty inexperienced baggie and 12 preloaded financial institution playing cards. 

Sgt. Mitter acknowledged within the grievance that enormous quantities of money, empty baggies and preloaded financial institution playing cards are an indication of unlawful drug distribution. 

Lt. Mitter, Deputy Marley and State Trooper Wilfong assisted the sergeant by looking out Casteel’s car. Inside, they discovered a handheld scanner, which can be utilized to hearken to regulation enforcement radio site visitors to seek out police places, together with a roll of plastic wrap much like what was present in Casteel’s pocket. 

In accordance with the grievance, when Sgt. Mitter ran the car identification quantity on Casteel’s car it didn’t come again from any of the 50 states. 

Suggested of his Miranda Rights, Casteel allegedly informed Sgt. Mitter he was in Newburg visiting a good friend from college. When requested in regards to the car, he directed the officer to the paperwork within the glovebox, which confirmed the car had been bought on Sept. 4 in Anmoore.  

Casteel allegedly claimed the money present in his pocket was left over from buying the automotive and the medicine had been methamphetamine for private use, claiming there have been solely 3 grams. 

The medicine had been examined and recognized as fentanyl and amphetamine. The whole weight of the medicine was discovered to be 21.96 grams. 

This isn’t the primary time Casteel has confronted drug fees within the space. In November 2021, Casteel was arrested by Westover Police and charged with three counts possession of a managed substance. He pleaded responsible in Monongalia County Justice of the Peace Court docket to misdemeanor possession and was sentenced to 6 months in jail. 

He’s being charged in Preston County with possession with intent to ship managed substances. Bond was set at $150,000. He’s presently in custody at Tygart Valley Regional Jail.