HINTON W.Va. (Hinton News) – According to a criminal complaint, on March 19, an officer saw a brown Kia going under the speed limit on Stokes Drive in Hinton. The officer had prior knowledge of the vehicle and reportedly knew it didn’t have valid insurance. The criminal complaint also stated that the officer had knowledge, indicating the owner was currently incarcerated on drug charges.
The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle allegedly made strange movements before stopping at Lifeline Church.
When the officer made contact with the driver, he found a person later identified as Chrystal Ward. As the officer was talking to Ward, he reported seeing in plain sight a cut straw with burned residue consistent with drug paraphernalia. According to the complaint, it’s most often used to consume drugs. The officer asked Ward to get out of the vehicle due to the lack of proof of insurance.
When Ward exited the vehicle, the officer reported seeing a plastic bag containing a brown powder substance. The officer then searched the vehicle and allegedly found an unlabeled blue pill on the passenger side floorboard. The complaint further states that field testing conducted indicated the powder substance was positive for methamphetamine, and the pill was positive for codeine.
Based on that information, the officer reported that he had probable cause to believe Ward knowingly and willingly had in her possession controlled substances. Ward was arrested and taken to Southern Regional Jail.
Ward has since been released and is no longer listed as an inmate at Southern Regional Jail.
Disclaimer: A criminal charge is an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The information provided is based on public records and official statements from law enforcement agencies.
