Small Town News

Stolen check arrest also turns up drugs

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Two Stillwater men were arrested last week after a local store reported a suspicious check.

Perkins Police Officer Michael Pearson responded to the report just after 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, at Williams Foods. A clerk there alleged a man had tried to cash a stolen check at the store. The clerk told Pearson the man left the store and was parked across the street in a white pick-up truck.

The officer confronted the driver of the pickup and asked him if his name was "Berry," which was the name provided by the store clerk. The driver identified himself as Justin Eversole, and told Pearson his passenger's last name was Berry.

When Berry was asked to step from the vehicle, the officer noticed what appeared to be torn check fragments on the floorboard. The subject, who identified himself as Blake Berry, admitted the check he allegedly tried to pass was "torn up on the floorboard."

Berry also told Pearson he had another check in his pocket. The officer noted the check was in bad condition and was not filled out.

According to Pearson's report, he placed Berry into investigative detention while he retrieved the check fragments. When he pieced the fragments back together, Pearson said he was able to see the check was made out to "Berry" and had a signature of "Rick." Pearson then contacted the owner of the checks, Richard Gualco, who Nov. 4, 2009 had reported his checkbook stolen in Stillwater.

Stillwater Police Officer Richard Leport said Richard Gualco reported a checkbook had been stolen from his vehicle on Oct. 31, 2009. The checkbook was for Gualco's business, Custom Commercial Construction LLC.

Krista Bayhylle, manager of Check N Go in Stillwater, reported to police a new customer, Blake Berry, on Nov. 24, 2009 had presented a $267 check drawn on Custom Commercial Construction LLC, for which he received $254.32 in cash and paid a fee of $10.68. The check was later returned unpaid as a forgery. Berry was arrested and charged with one count of forgery in the second degree and one count of burglary in the second degree, both felony crimes.

On Dec. 22, the court amended Berry's initial filing and added two additional felony counts: one for false pawn declaration and the second for false pawn. These subsequent charges involved an alleged burglary at Berry's mother's residence where an Xbox and four guns were stolen.

Berry allegedly told officers he felt he had "part ownership" of the Xbox and knew the guns belonged to his brother. He pawned the Xbox at EZ Pawn and three guns at Best Pawn and Trading Company for a total of $290.

According to Pearson's narrative of the Jan. 10 arrest in Perkins, Berry admitted he knew the checks were stolen. When asked why he had presented them to cash, he said, "I don't know."

Pearson also questioned Eversole about the checks. Eversole allegedly admitted he knew the checks were stolen, and said they belonged to the boyfriend of Berry's mother.

As he searched Eversole before placing him in investigative detention, Pearson discovered five hypodermic needles and a metal spoon in Eversole's pocket.

According to Pearson's narrative, Eversole allegedly admitted the needles contained heroin and oxycontin. The spoon allegedly had a white residue on it, which field tested positive for heroin and cocaine.

The syringes and spoon were all sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations for appropriate testing, Pearson said.

Berry, 22, was arrested for forgery and knowingly concealing stolen property.

Eversole, 21, was arrested for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both men were transported to Payne County Sheriff's Office.



Copyright 2010 The Perkins Journal, Perkins, Oklahoma. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Perkins Journal Perkins, Oklahoma. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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