COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating 3 suspects in connection with drugs and a reported stolen vehicle.
On January 26, 67-year-old Christopher Mark Kreidler reported to police that Amber Meleise McHargue, 33, and her boyfriend, later identified as Jose Matthew Diaz, 25, both of Arkansas City had taken his 2009 Toyota pickup truck without permission and not returned it to him, according to a media release from Arkansas City Police.
As part of this report, police entered the truck into the National Crime Information Center as a stolen vehicle.
Just after 9p.m. that evening, officers saw the alleged stolen truck and conducted a traffic stop in the 600 block of South Summit Street. Kreidler was driving the truck, and Diaz and McHargue were passengers.
When questioned by officers at the scene, Kreidler allegedly denied reporting the vehicle as stolen. He then said he had reported the license plate stolen two months prior.
When asked why he had reported the truck as stolen earlier that day when it had been stolen, he said it was “to get the truck back.”
A search of the vehicle, which was later impounded, turned up a blue bag containing numerous illegal substances on the driver’s-side floorboard of the truck. Police also determined Diaz had two active warrants outstanding for his arrest.
Police took all three into custody without incident.
Jose Matthew Diaz, 25, was arrested on requested charges of felony possession of methamphetamine, as well as one misdemeanor count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. He also was arrested on two Arkansas City Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear.
Amber Meleise McHargue, 33, of rural Arkansas City, was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of methamphetamine, as well as one misdemeanor count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Police arrested on requested charges of felony possession of methamphetamine, as well as one misdemeanor count each of interference with a law enforcement officer by falsely reporting a crime, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
All three suspects remained in custody.