May 20, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell would like to report that on the 12th of May at around 12am Sergeant Michael Griffin while on routine patrol made a traffic stop on a vehicle for an expired registration on Martin Luther King Drive in 
Center. Sergeant Griffin identified the driver as James Allen Watson, 41, of Joaquin with passenger Crystal Monique Steffen, 26, of Center.
During the course of the traffic stop, Sergeant Griffin observed the driver to be nervous and was denied consent to search the vehicle. Sergeant Burkhalter and K9 Taz with the Center Police Department was contacted to perform an open air sniff around the vehicle. K9 Taz alerted on the vehicle as containing possible narcotics and a search of the vehicle was performed.
During the search a usable amount of methamphetamine was located along with several items of drug paraphernalia. James Allen Watson was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance (state jail felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).
This illustrates the inter agency cooperation between different law enforcement agencies committed to make Shelby County a better place. We would like to stress if you observe anything you believe to be suspicious or believe there is illegal drug activity in your neighborhood to please feel free to call your local agency or report it to the Center Crime stoppers.
