On September 14, 2017, at approximately 11:30 p.m., 33-year-old Joshua Crites and 34-year-old Rachel Crites were arrested on charges including Possession of Methamphetamine, Transportation of a Dangerous Drug for Sale (Methamphetamine), Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of a Firearm during a drug offense.
The couple was detained outside the truck by assisting deputies. A field test of smaller shards found during closer inspection of the truck’s interior confirmed the substance was methamphetamine. The shard originally noticed by the deputy was later found underneath the seat and confirmed as methamphetamine. A further search of the truck revealed a Ruger .22 rifle, several cell phones, a 2-way radio, a methamphetamine ‘bong’ hidden inside the dash board, and a digital scale.
Hidden in a void near the front passenger compartment, searching deputies located a package containing a half pound of methamphetamine.At the indicated date and time, a YCSO K9 deputy stopped a brown Ford-F150 truck for an equipment and moving violation on Cherry Creek Road near Arizona 260 in Camp Verde.
Rachel was driving and Joshua was her front seat passenger. While speaking with Rachel about the traffic violations, the deputy saw a white crystalline shard sitting on a small rectangular tray in the center console. Based on his training and experience, the deputy realized it was methamphetamine and directed Joshua to exit the truck. Joshua questioned the deputy’s order and turned in his seat in an attempt to block the deputy’s view of the methamphetamine. When Joshua turned back around to exit, the methamphetamine shard was gone. When questioned, Joshua claimed the deputy may have seen some ‘sugar.’
Both subjects were arrested, booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center on the indicated charges and remain in-custody – each on a $25,000 bond. PANT detectives continue investigating the source and destination of this drug load.
It was also learned that the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office has a pending drug case involving the suspects. As a result of these arrests, they issued the following statement:
“9/15/17 – The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an arrest by YCSO of two subjects in Yavapai County for transportation of methamphetamine near Camp Verde. Spokesperson Susan Batson says 33-year–old Joshua and 34-year-old Rachel Crites, both of Winslow, were stopped for a civil violation when the Yavapai County Deputy noticed a methamphetamine shard sitting on the center console of the vehicle. Upon a detailed search, approximately ½ pound of methamphetamine was located inside the vehicle. Batson says Joshua and Rachel Crites have multiple prior criminal charges in the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for illegal methamphetamine sales and were currently out on a cash bond with Navajo County. Both of the suspects are now in custody at the Yavapai County Jail.”
YCSO greatly appreciates the assistance of the Navaho County Sheriff’s Office in providing background on the suspects in light of their ongoing investigation. Multi-agency cooperation is critical in cases of this type as by their very nature, suspects operate throughout multiple jurisdictions