Illegal parking leads to drug arrest

If you are going to have pills, a digital scale and hypodermic needles in your vehicle, then it is probably a good idea not to draw attention to yourself by illegally parking.

This is what a Williamsburg man is accused of doing early Monday morning at the Pilot Travel Center.

The investigation started when Williamsburg Police Officer Dorman Patrick Jr. and K-9 Officer Elijah Hunter observed a white 1999 Ford Expedition illegally parked in a handicap zone, according to a police department release and an arrest citation.

William Wayne Veach Jr., 40, walked out the store about that time and reported that the vehicle belonged to him and he was driving it.

Ashley D. Miller, 30, of Williamsburg, was a passenger in the vehicle.

Hunter deployed his K-9 partner, Vicko, which alerted and indicated the possible presence of illegal contraband in the vehicle, an arrest citation stated.

Upon search of the vehicle, Veach was found to be in possession of a digital scale that contained a white crystal residue, schedule II and scheduled IV pill tablets, and hypodermic needles, according to the release.

Veach allegedly told police that the white residue on the scale was meth, according to his arrest citation.

Miller had a needle concealed in her pants that she voluntarily handed over to police and informed them about, according to her arrest citation.

Patrick charged Veach with unauthorized parking in a handicap zone, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), first-degree possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified), second-degree possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patrick charged Miller with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were arrested at 12:03 a.m. Monday and were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center where they were released less than six hours later.