On Friday, June 19, 2015, at approximately 11:15pm, a Nolan County deputy stopped a tan GMC Sierra for a minor traffic violation in the 300 block of East Broadway, Sweetwater. Contact was made with the driver, Dustin Hays, of Tennessee who was accompanied by a passenger of Sweetwater, a known methamphetamine user.

Both individuals were requested to exit the vehicle where a roadside investigation was conducted. During the investigation, signs of criminal activity became evident; consequently the deputy requested consent to search the vehicle but was denied.

The Sweetwater Police Department was then contacted, and a K9 unit was requested. Officer Daniel Olds arrived on scene and deployed a K9, where an open-air sniff operation was conducted. The K9 alerted on the driver side of the vehicle, as it made its way to the console area, justifying a “probable cause” search.

A search of the vehicle was conducted which lead to the discovery of a zip baggy containing suspected methamphetamine, concealed underneath the console. Also located in the vehicle was drug paraphernalia and two clear containers of clean urine samples, commonly used by narcotic users to pass drug analysis.

Hayes was placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where he was charged with the felony offense of possession of controlled substance. The case will be filed with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.