By: Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Cushing teenager, who allegedly had $2,680 in cash, as well as methamphetamine, marijuana, baggies and scales after he was found asleep in his truck, has been ordered to appear in court on June 7 when he can seek a preliminary hearing on his charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute.
If convicted of his felony drug count, Trissten Ardell Sjodin, 19, could be incarcerated for as long as seven years in prison and fined $100,000.
If convicted of actual physical control of a vehicle in Cushing while under the influence of an intoxicating substance, Sjodin could be jailed for 10 days to one year and fined $1,000. If convicted of possessing drug paraphernalia, Sjodin could be given a one year jail term and a $1,000 fine.
Cushing Police Officer David Smith alleged in his affidavit that Sjodin was asleep at 4:25 pm on May 4 in the driver’s seat of a black Chevrolet Avalanche that was partially over the west curb line facing north against the flow of traffic at N. East Avenue and E. Broadway Street.
After the officer raised his voice and shook Sjodin’s arm, he was only able to wake Sjodin up when he completed a sternum rub on him, the affidavit alleged.
“I noticed the vehicle was still in drive and advised Sjodin to put the vehicle in park. Sjodin appeared confused and disoriented.
“I had to repeat the orders to him several times before he comprehended what I was saying and complied. Once the vehicle was put in park, I had Sjodin turn off the vehicle and hand me the keys,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
Sjodin had bloodshot watery eyes, delayed reactions to questions, and very thick slurred speech, along with being uneasy on his feet, the affidavit alleged. “I asked Sjodin if he knew where he was; he advised he was by the hospital,” but he was not very close to the hospital, the officer alleged in his affidavit.
“I advised Sjodin that he had even driven up on the curb and he appeared surprised and looked at his truck,” the officer wrote in his affidavit.
After performing poorly on field sobriety tests, Sjodin was arrested for driving while under an intoxicating substance and having actual physical control of his vehicle, the affidavit alleged.
During a custodial search of Sjodin, the officer alleged in his affidavit, “I located a very large sum of money ($2,680) containing $20 and $100 bills in a clear baggy, which was located in his front right pocket. This was abnormal as I had never located this much money packaged in that way before while making an arrest. I also found two keys, which were also in his front right pocket, which appeared to be for some type of lock or lockbox.
“When I opened the passenger rear door, I immediately observed in plain view on the floorboard a white container with the word ‘stache’ on it. I opened the container in order to see if there was any valuables in it and located a green leafy substance I had identified as marijuana.” Sjodin said that he did not have a medical marijuana card, the affidavit alleged.
The officer alleged, “I then retrieved the lockbox keys that were in Sjodin’s property, as there was a lockbox in the back seat right above the ‘stache’ container. When I opened the container, I immediately noticed there was green leafy substance which appeared to be marijuana and a white rock substance which appeared to be methamphetamine.
“There were also multiple clear baggies which appeared to be unused, scales with both green leafy and crystal residue, a gun which appeared to be a Glock 19, another smaller black box containing smaller capsules and a wooden marijuana kit, and a purple case which contained two glass smoking pipes with burnt crystal residue.”
When Cushing Master Police Officer Kurt McKean observed the firearm, “he advised it was a Glock CO2 BB pistol,” the affidavit alleged.
“I then weighed the crystal rock and its weight resulted in approximately 9.6 grams…I also know that the crystal rock, which is presumptive positive for methamphetamine, is not typically found in that form unless someone is in the process of buying and distributing it. Typically, personal use methamphetamine is found in a more ground powdery-like form based off of my experiences,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
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