By John Estridge
A Michigan male’s desire to stay true to his girlfriend, who is in jail somewhere, directly led to he and his female companion ending up in the Franklin County Security Center on felony drug charges.
According to a Narrative written by Brookville Police Department Lt. Ryan Geiser, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, Jeremy R. Spotts, 47, and Dena M. Cook, 47, both of Charlotte, Michigan, were traveling from Michigan to Florida “for a job.”
While traveling, Cook expressed a desire to perform oral sex on Spotts. However, Spotts declined because he has a girlfriend who is in jail somewhere. That led to a verbal altercation, and the couple decided to stop at Dairy Cottage in Brookville.
Parking on the south side of the popular family restaurant, Spotts apparently began taking his belongings from the white four-door passenger vehicle and putting them on the adjacent sidewalk. At some point, he apparently grew frustrated and began walking south along Main Street. He was described as a skinny white male wearing a black shirt and black ball cap.
Cook continued taking Spotts’ belongings from the car and placing them on the sidewalk. At some point, a local male became concerned and asked Cook if she was OK. She replied that it was a beautiful day and then began mumbling to herself. The male thought she must be under the influence of drugs and called 911.
Geiser responded to dispatch’s request for an officer.
He found “a number of backpacks and a bicycle scattered everywhere.” Geiser approached Cook who was still actively removing items from the open driver’s side of the vehicle. Geiser told her he was there because a person was concerned for her wellbeing. While talking to her, Geiser smelled marijuana.
That led to Geiser asking Cook “if there was anything in the vehicle that I needed to know about.”
Cook said there was marijuana and a pipe, and she showed Geiser a medical marijuana card through Michigan, which allowed her to possess marijuana. Geiser placed Cook in handcuffs and she was read and said she understood her Miranda rights. She told Geiser her marijuana was in her purse, and there was possibly a joint in the ashtray.
Prior to searching the car, Geiser conveyed Cook’s personal information to the Franklin County Security Center. It was found Cook had a suspended driver’s license and the vehicle’s registration had expired in January.
In a brown-colored purse, Geiser found 11 grams of marijuana, which is less than half an ounce. However, he then found two clear zip lock baggies which contained about 170 grams of marijuana, which is about six ounces.
According to www.suncrest.com, an ounce of marijuana is worth between $230 to $380, which makes the total amount found worth somewhere between $1,472 and $2,432.
Police Chief Terry Mitchum and Assistant Chief Michael Strait arrived on the scene as backup. Mitchum got a description of the male from Dairy Cottage employees and went in search of him. Spotts was found near Zimmer Tractor along U.S. 52 on the southside of town.
It was discovered Spotts had warrants out of Arizona and Colorado; however, there was no extradition attached to the warrants.
Spotts was read his Miranda rights and acknowledged his understanding of them. He said he had earlier smoked some pot and was still feeling the effects. Spotts claimed all the pot was Cook’s while Cook said she possessed only the 11 grams of marijuana and the rest belonged to Spotts.
Cook was found to have a previous conviction for Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance on Nov. 16, 2010, in the Adams County, Colorado Court. Spotts has a prior conviction for a “drug offense” on October 16, 2001, in District Court 56A in Michigan.
Both were transported to the Franklin County Security Center where they remain on Friday, May 6. Jolliff Towing removed the vehicle from the Dairy Cottage parking lot.
Cook and Spotts are each charged with Possession of Marijuana, as a Level 6 Felony. If found guilty of that offense, they could receive a jail sentence of six months to 2.5 years.
