Apr. 15—Law enforcement in Morgan County had a busy weekend, making multiple drug arrests and charging a juvenile with burglarizing a convenience store.
Priceville police said a traffic stop was conducted around 9 p.m. Saturday in the 3300 block of Alabama 67. Following a search, officers said they found a stolen handgun and marijuana in the vehicle.
Nathanial Elijah Williams, 18, of Huntsville, was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and second-degree receiving stolen property, police said. He was booked into the Morgan County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bail and has since been released, according to jail records.
“Anytime we can recover a stolen firearm, it’s a successful shift. There is no telling what all this gun’s been involved in,” said Priceville Police Chief Jerry Holmes.
On Sunday, Priceville officers attempted to stop a vehicle traveling south on Interstate 65 near mile marker 335, according to police. They said the driver, identified as Dominik Fabian Mendoza Ulken, 19, of Hartselle, led officers on a pursuit exceeding 100 mph.
Ulken eventually pulled over, and officers said they found synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. He was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony attempting to elude, driving under the influence, reckless driving and improper lane usage, police said.
Ulken was transported to the Morgan County Jail, where he remained Monday afternoon in lieu of $162,600 bail, according to jail records.
After another I-65 traffic stop Sunday night, Priceville police charged Joshua Lamarkus Newell, 24, of Eutaw, with possessing 1.8 pounds of marijuana sealed in separate vacuum-packed bags. He remained in the Morgan County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail on Monday, according to jail records. “Also located were digital scales, numerous small plastic baggies, and other items consistent with the weighing and packaging of narcotics for distribution,” according to a police affidavit.
In another drug arrest Sunday, agents with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Unit, Patrol Division, and K-9 Unit arrested a Florida man after finding 2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his vehicle during a stop in Hartselle, according to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
Ruben De La Cruz Diaz, 24, of Labelle, Florida, was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs and transported to the Morgan County Jail, where he remained Monday in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, according to jail records.
The Sheriff’s Office said an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer was placed on Diaz while his immigration status is under review.
In a non-drug arrest Sunday, a 14-year-old male was arrested after allegedly breaking into the All In One convenience store at 2466 N. Bethel Road after midnight and stealing cases of vape products, Priceville police said.
The store owner initially canceled the police response after not seeing anyone on the surveillance footage following the alarm being triggered, according to police, but the suspect was located later and taken into custody. He was transported to a juvenile detention facility and police said additional arrests may follow as the investigation continues.
— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.