Drug charges filed against Scott County man

BENTON -- A local man arrested for violations of a protection order faces additional charges for drug possession.

Kevin Randolph McClendon, 56, of Morley, is charged with the felonies of possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said about 11 a.m. Sunday, Senior Deputy Matt Scroggins made contact with McClendon at a business on Highway 61 in Morley.

Scroggins advised McClendon he was being arrested for violations of an adult protection order issued by the Scott County Associate Circuit Court. McClendon informed the deputy that he wanted to leave his vehicle at the business and his jacket inside the vehicle.

When McClendon pulled a black container from the jacket pocket and opened it, Scroggins observed a small plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance and ordered McClendon to surrender it. McClendon first backed away and then turned to walk away, dropping the bag.

Scroggins grabbed McClendon's left arm and ordered him to get on the ground. When McClendon did not comply, he was again ordered to the ground but McClendon continued to resist by backing away. The deputy then forced McClendon to the ground to bring about his arrest, the Sheriff reported.

The clear plastic bag was then recovered from under McClendon's feet.

After being handcuffed, McClendon told the officer there was a glass pipe in the vehicle. The pipe with a burnt substance was located in the driver's side door. "Both the glass pipe and the clear plastic bag field-tested positive for methamphetamine," Walter said in a news release.

McClendon was transported to the Scott County Jail, where he remained in custody on a $2,500 cash only bond.

The sheriff asks that anyone who has further information regarding other criminal activity concerning McClendon, or any other crimes to contact the Scott County Sheriff's Office at 545-3525, or leave a message on the crime tip line at 1-866-210-4322.