A 65-year-old man, Arnold Chasteen, and his wife, 62-year-old Kelly Bowker are in custody after he was caught trying to send meth to California.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, on December 31, 2020, officers from the Prescott Valley Police Department (PVPD) contacted detectives from Partner Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) regarding a suspicious package at a mail service center. Officers had been notified that a man, later identified as Chasteen, came to the center requesting to ship a package. After completing the transaction, an employee noticed what he believed were illegal drugs inside the still open package and the police were called. A K9 alert confirmed the odor of illicit drugs, likely methamphetamine, and PANT detectives were notified to assist with the investigative follow-up.
A PANT detective noted the name of the sender and recipient on the package including the recipient’s address in California. Eventually, contact was made with the person named as the sender who was currently located in Texas. As requested, he sent of a photo of himself to the detective to compare with the man seen in the video at the mail service center and they were not the same individual. When the detective sent a photo of the man who attempted to mail the package of drugs, the Texas resident recognized him as an acquaintance and had no idea why this person would be using his name. Detectives researched the name provided by the Texas resident, compared a photo from the store video and identified the man as Chasteen.
The investigation continued and on January 5, 2021, PVPD Officers and PANT detectives went to Chasteen’s address of record in the 8900 block of E Ranger Court, Prescott Valley. Chasteen was initially found outside the home and the information regarding his involvement with the package of meth was explained. He claimed the person listed as the sender asked him to ship the package and has done so previously. When requested, Chasteen gave consent to search his home. Bowker was also present. Inside a bedroom, a PANT detective found a wooden box with marijuana and drug paraphernalia on top. Bowker claimed the box was hers and following her consent to search inside, the detective saw a container of apparent cocaine.
Both Chasteen and Bowker were detained, and a search warrant was sought and served. Detectives seized several thousand dollars in US Currency along with 43 grams of cocaine, 11 grams of meth plus the 7 grams from the package seized earlier, 15 grams psilocybin mushrooms, 79 grams of hash, 277 grams of marijuana, 224 grams of Alprazolam (Xanax), 3 homemade firearm Suppressors, 3 oxycodone pills and 25 Firearms.
Chasteen was booked on charges including Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Possession of a Dangerous Drug, Possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony, Possession of Marijuana, Identity Theft and a Weapons Offense. He remains in-custody on a $10,000 bond.
Bowker was booked on charges including Possession of cocaine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Weapons Offense. She also remains in-custody on a $10,000 bond.