Crockett, Grapeland PD Work Together on Drug Bust

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A curfew violation in Crockett’s Davy Crockett Memorial Park early Sunday morning, Jan. 21 led to the arrest of two Crockett men on felony drug charges.

Brady Clark Feild, 21, and William Troy Stewart, 22, were taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana as well as possession of a controlled substance, penalty group one, after they were observed near the park’s pavilion after hours.

The city of Crockett has an ordinance in place preventing people from using the park between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Crockett PD Sgt. Alfredo Fajardo was on patrol at approximately 12:30 a.m. when he observed a Toyota Camry parked near the pavilion.

As Fajardo approached the Toyota he observed a person walking away from the vehicle. He activated his patrol unit’s emergency lights “… to signal the person to stop and to detain anyone that was inside the vehicle.”

The person walking away from the vehicle came back to where the Toyota was parked. Fajardo recognized him as William “TJ” Stewart. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Brady Feild.

In the affidavit, Fajardo indicated he knew Stewart “… had recent legal trouble involving methamphetamine possession and use.”

While being questioned, Stewart was asked if he had any illegal contraband on his person and Stewart started pulling out items from his pockets which included marijuana and methamphetamine. Fajardo placed Stewart under arrest and then went to speak with Feild, who was still in the vehicle.

“Feild was asked out of the vehicle, detained and advised of his Miranda Warnings. Feild denied consent to search his vehicle, but said he and Stewart were together and added Stewart had just gotten out of the car as I (Fajardo) drove up,” the affidavit reported.

Because Feild had denied consent to search his vehicle, the police sergeant called Grapeland Police Officer Carly Tullis “… and asked her to respond with her narcotics K9, Roxy.”

Once Tullis and Roxy arrived, Tullis let the K9 “… do a free air search around the vehicle. While doing the free air sniff, Officer Tullis told me that K9 Roxy alerted on the vehicle.”

A probable cause search on the vehicle was conducted which uncovered meth residue and marijuana.  Feild was also arrested at the scene and charged with possession of marijuana as well as possession of a controlled substance.

Under Texas law, possession of marijuana is considered a Class A misdemeanor offense while possession of a controlled substance is a third degree felony.

According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Under Section 12.21 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $4,000; confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or both such fine and confinement.”

Both Feild and Stewart were held on total bonds of $14,500. Feild posted bond and was released, pending trial. Stewart is still held at the Houston County Jail.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].