BEDFORD – On Wednesday, May 1 during a traffic stop, Bedford Police officers received information about a large amount of meth in an apartment in the 1000 block of 16th Street.
The woman told police she had recently purchased some meth from Robbie Leatherman and he had a “softball” amount of meth.
Based on that information and other tips, police applied for and were granted a search warrant for the apartment at 1013 16th Street by Judge Nathan Nikirk. That warrant was executed at an apartment in the 1000 block of 16th Street at 4:33 a.m. on May 2.
Officers knocked on the door, announced their presence, and searched the apartment.
Police found a male in one bedroom, and crystal meth was found in a second bedroom. The male stated that the bedroom where the meth was located belonged to Leatherman.
When the officer left to secure a second search warrant for the 1000 block of 16th Street, Leatherman opened the door and nearly struck the officer. It was at that time Leatherman was detained.
Police found a black rubber glove that contained crystal meth and marijuana in plain view in the second apartment.
Officers seized the black Latex glove; inside were seven baggies containing crystal meth. The meth was packaged to sell. There was a total of 41 grams of meth in the glove. Police also found another baggie of crystal meth containing four grams, a metal grinder with marijuana residue, a baggie of marijuana, a plastic container holding a partially burnt marijuana cigarette, a baggy of marijuana stems and seeds, a container with Fentanyl rocks, and smoking devices.
In the first apartment, police found a baggy of meth in Leatherman’s bedroom, two tin containers with crystal meth, a pill bottle containing meth residue, and a metal tin containing two marijuana cigarettes. In the kitchen, police found a container with meth residue inside.
Police then found meth in 47-year-old Alicia Stewart-Merriman-Singh’s purse. She said the meth was not hers. She said the marijuana was her’s but not the meth.
In the apartment was Singh’s mother, who suffers from several medical problems, and Singh was her caregiver.
Police released Singh to care for her mother. The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, and a warrant was issued for Singh’s arrest on charges of possession of meth, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Police arrested 48-year-old Robbie Leatherman on charges of dealing and possession of meth over 28 grams.