Deputy “caught on” to identity deception by suspected meth dealer
When deputies responded to an alarm at a business in eastern Greene County, one encountered a vehicle leaving the property. The driver had a warrant out for his arrest and is now facing new criminal charges for allegedly not telling the truth about his real name and for dealing methamphetamine.
Gary Dean Sturgeon-Morris Jr., 29, Solsberry, was arrested late Friday night, April 12, by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy David Elmore.
Deputy Elmore was one of the deputies dispatched to an active alarm that night at a business property at 10737 East State Road 54. When he arrived, he encountered a four-door tan Mazda leaving the area. He conducted an investigational traffic stop at State Road 54 and State Road 445.
The driver was later identified as Sturgeon-Morris but at first, he handed the deputy another man’s driver’s license. Deputy Elmore wrote in a probable cause document that he immediately recognized the driver’s license because Sturgeon-Morris had allegedly given the same license to another deputy in February in another attempt to conceal his identity.
Sturgeon-Morris had an active warrant out for his arrest in a previous case involving possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and was taken into custody with no issues.
When Deputy Elmore told Sturgeon-Morris he had recognized the driver’s license, Sturgeon-Morris allegedly said, “I know, I figured you caught on.”
During a records check, the deputy also learned the registration number on the Mazda actually belonged to another vehicle – a gray 1999 Subaru Legacy.
Sturgeon-Morris was found to be in possession of cash in the amount of $791.38 and during an inventory of the vehicle, Deputy Elmore found multiple small zip lock style bags, some of them with a white powder substance inside, syringes, and digital scales. The white substance filed-tested positive for methamphetamine as did a substance found on the digital scales.
In addition, Sturgeon-Morris’s own driver’s license was suspended.
Sturgeon-Morris was booked in to the Greene County Jail and he appeared in court for an initial hearing last Thursday morning, April 18.
He has been charged with:
Dealing in methamphetamine in an amount between five and 10 grams, a Level 3 felony,
Unlawful possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony,
Identity deception, a Level 6 felony, and
Driving while suspended – a knowing violation with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor.
His bond was set at $50,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of late Sunday evening, he had not yet posted bond and remained in the Greene County Jail.
In the previous case with the warrant, he has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony – case still pending.