BEDFORD – A Bedford man wanted on a warrant is now facing meth charges after being stopped at a gas station on Wednesday, March 12.
Police detained 45-year-old Roy York on the outstanding warrant and new charges of possession of meth greater than five grams, unlawful possession of a syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Wednesday, while on patrol, Sgt. Toby Gerkin observed York, whom he knew from prior encounters, standing beside a motorcycle in the Revere’s parking lot. York opened the motorcycle’s saddlebag and appeared to be going through items. Sgt. Gerkin knew York had a warrant out of Lawrence County, and dispatch confirmed the warrant was valid. Officers made contact with York and placed him into custody without incident.
During a search of York’s person, York stated that he thought he might have a “rig” in his front right pocket. Officer Duprey located a syringe in York’s pocket. York stated that he is a diabetic and uses a syringe for insulin.
After being read his Miranda rights, York declined to consent to search the motorcycle, stating that the bike did not belong to him and that Sgt. Gerkin needed to consult with the owner. York said that he had been at Revere’s all night, that an unknown person had taken the motorcycle for a ride while in the restroom, and that he was unaware if this person might have placed anything in the saddlebags. Further inspection of the syringe revealed it to be caked with a crystal-like substance. A field test of the substance yielded a positive result for methamphetamine.
The motorcycle’s owner arrived on the scene and provided proof of ownership. He then released the bike to his custody.
A probable cause search of the motorcycle was conducted due to the methamphetamine being located on York’s person. During the search of the saddlebags, officers located:
- A clear “bubble wrap” bag containing four syringes
- 1 metal container containing a crystal-like substance
- 1 plastic bag wrapped in duct tape containing a crystal-like substance
- 1 metal spoon containing a crystal-like substance
All of the crystal-like substances field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The crystal-like substance in the plastic bag was weighed, yielding a preliminary weight of 10 grams.
York was transported to the Bedford Police Department for processing before being transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing. Jail staff initially refused to take York into custody due to a motorcycle accident on the previous day. He was transported to IU Health for medical clearance before returning to the jail for housing.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
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