Increased patrols in hotel and motel parking lots in light of a recent rash of vehicle break-ins led to the arrest late Monday of a local man on a felony drug charge.
Christopher Allen Ennis, 35, who lists a Fourth Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 11:30 p.m. and charged with a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years in prison.
He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $2,500 bond and is set to appear today in district court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 11 p.m. Monday, Sgt. LeeAnn Zaner was patrolling hotel parking lots and spotted a green Ford Expedition parked behind Quality Inn and Suites, 4319 Central Ave. She noted there was someone sitting in the driver's seat, but the vehicle was parked in the dark, away from all the rooms.
She made contact with the occupant, identified as Ennis, and determined he was a parolee under active supervision with a search waiver on file. Ennis told her he had a room "around the corner" but was using a different hotel's Wi-Fi for his cellular device.
In searching through Ennis' belongings, Zaner allegedly found numerous syringe caps and found a set of digital scales in his backpack which had residue that tested positive for meth. She also found one full package of syringes, three plastic baggies and more syringe caps.
When questioned, Ennis reportedly confirmed he was not diabetic and did not have any other health issue that would require the use of a syringe.
Local on 10/23/2019