Posted/Courtesy: GCSO: Justin Hudman (left) and Tasina Jackson face multiple drug charges after police found thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl during a DUI investigation arrested.
Police seize thousands of fentanyl pills and ounces of methamphetamine
by John Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
Safford – Two suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine sellers have been arrested following a welfare test of a driver who appears to have passed out after driving for hours.
At approximately 8:26 am on Saturday, May 6, Safford police officers were dispatched to the black Nissan Sentra, which had been parked but had been running since 5:00 am.
Upon arrival, officers found the driver, Justin Trey Matthew Hudman, 25, drowsy at the wheel. Officers said Hudman woke up with signs of disability and the car was driven with Hudman at the wheel, prompting an on-site DUI test.
Hudman initially refused police requests to search the vehicle, but was taken into custody after failing an on-site sobriety test. Officers then noticed two blue pills that matched counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, which were prevalent in the area. When asked about the pills, Hudman replied police officers would find more.
A variety of drugs and paraphernalia were found, but the large contraband was in a green camouflage backpack containing about 2,000 counterfeit oxycodone tablets mixed with fentanyl and several ounces of methamphetamine. Hudman claimed the drugs belonged to her roommate Tasina Jackson, 36, who sold them for her and that they remained in her apartment. He also advised guard dogs.
Officers then received a search warrant for the mansion, and Officer Thatcher and the Graham County Sheriff’s Office sergeant joined the search. Jackson was seen walking outside the mansion with his dog and obeying police orders. The dog was removed from the scene, and Jackson was safely taken into custody while the apartment was searched.
She is alleged to have told investigators that she had recently been refilled with 500 counterfeit oxycodone pills and about 2.5 ounces of stimulants. The pills and meth seized by officers at the apartment included more than 100 grams of fentanyl tablets and about an ounce of meth. Jackson allegedly admitted to selling the pills for $3 each.
After her arrest, she was charged with two counts of possession of drugs, possession of drugs with intent to sell, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia. A warrant for her arrest on these charges was served on Tuesday, May 9, and listed $50,000 bail.
The warrant was also in a separate case involving alleged fraud, conspiracy, and theft. In this case, her security deposit was set at her $25,000.
Jackson is also filing additional lawsuits related to drug possession and drug paraphernalia charges that he has not appeared in court since March. Her bail in this case was set at $5,000. That means she’s being held on bail totaling $80,000 while Jackson awaits her sentencing.
After the DUI investigation closed, Safford police began transporting Hudman to prison, but Hudman escaped on foot. When officers tried to stop him, Hudman allegedly punched him several times and tried to bite him on the arm. Officers then dragged Mr. Hudman to the ground and kept him under control as other law enforcement agencies arrived to assist. In the wake of the incident, officers added charges of fleeing and aggravated assault to Hudman’s record. He was also arrested for DUI, DUI drugs, possession of narcotics, possession of drugs with intent to sell, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hudman has also been charged with conspiracy to defraud and committing fraud and theft in separate cases from DUI and drug raids, according to online court records. He also has another unsolved shoplifting case.
However, he was ordered released two days later, and records show he has not yet been charged with DUI and drug charges.
