Garet Murch
(PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 48-year-old Cushing man, who was arrested at his home near Memorial Park, has been jailed on $75,000 bond pending a court appearance this afternoon on charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possessing three guns during the commission of a felony, and having drug paraphernalia.
If convicted of the three-count charge, Garet Murch could be incarcerated for 31 years and fined as much as $501,000, according to court documents filed last week.
Murch, who previously lived in Springdale, Ark., was arrested at 12:45 pm on March 27 after a search warrant was served at his residence in the 700 block of E. 3rd St. by Cushing police and deputies from the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, an affidavit said.
Cushing Police Officer Jonathan Walker alleged in an affidavit that at about 12:04 pm that day, “I knocked at the front door and Murch answered, stating he needed to go get dressed. While waiting for Murch, I was able to hear a loud dragging and stuff banging around inside of the south side of the residence,” before Murch came out.
During a search of Murch’s house where he was the only occupant at the time, Cushing police found 44.1 grams of methamphetamine, a sealed bag of mushrooms weighing 32.8 grams, $2,306 in cash, three guns one of which was confirmed as stolen, 40 cell phones, two laptops, 18 thumb drives, a working digital scale, and nine pipes, the affidavit alleged.
“Sgt. Watts used his department-issued measuring wheel which indicated that Murch’s residence was 108 feet from the public park known as Memorial Park in Cushing,” according to the affidavit.
