(Stillwater, Okla.) – Two Creek County men, who were arrested by Cushing Police Chief Tully Folden during a traffic stop on Main Street on July 21, have been accused of possessing methamphetamine in Payne County.
Udell McCormick, 44, an ex-convict from Drumright known as “Pathfinder,” was charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute after a former felony conviction. McCormick was not in the Payne County Jail on Wednesday, according to a sheriff’s spokesman.
James Gavin Baker, 25, of Oilton, who is on probation for methamphetamine possession in Creek County, was charged with possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Payne County. Baker remains in the Payne County Jail on $5,000 bail pending a Friday court appearance.
The pair were arrested by the Cushing police chief at 8:39 a.m. on July 21 in the 2300 block of E. Main Street, according to an affidavit filed in court records.
They were traveling in a blue Chevrolet Blazer eastbound in the 2100 block of E. Main Street while going 48 mph in a 40 mph zone, the police chief alleged in his affidavit.
Baker, the driver, said “he was going to pick up his kids and then go to work, which he was already late for,” the affidavit said.
McCormick, the passenger, said “he was aware that he had a Creek County warrant, but he was in the process of taking care of it,” the affidavit said.
McCormick’s warrant was issued on March 27, 2014, for failure to appear in the Drumright division of district court on a 1999 misdemeanor charge of molesting a motor vehicle, court records show.
“Baker and McCormick appeared to be very nervous,” at the time of the traffic stop, the Cushing police chief wrote in his affidavit.
Both men had outstanding arrest warrants from Creek County, the affidavit said.
When McCormick was asked to step out of the vehicle, turn around and put his hands behind his back, “While doing so, Officer Livergood pointed out a baggy on the ground, which was next to McCormick’s feet,” the affidavit alleged.
“I then picked up the baggy, which contained four small corner baggies containing a crystalized substance, loose crystalized substance and a second large baggy which contained loose crystalized substance,” the Cushing police chief alleged in his affidavit.
“McCormick immediately denied the baggy and its content,” the affidavit said.
After Baker consented to a search of his vehicle, “I seized a small Crown Royal bag from the center console, which contained a roll of black electrical tae and a broken glass smoking pipe with burnt residue. I also seized a large baggy, which contained several smaller baggies and numerous Q-tips,” the Cushing police chief alleged in his affidavit.
Following the search, the vehicle was released to Baker’s father, who talked to his son, the affidavit said.
“During their conversation, which I was present for, Baker was asked by his father who the baggy belonged to and he said Pathfinder. Baker then advised that Pathfinder was his passenger,” the Cushing police chief alleged in his affidavit.
When Baker was interviewed by the Cushing police chief, “Baker denied the baggy containing the numerous smaller baggies and crystalized substance. Baker advised that the baggy and its contents belonged to McCormick, AKA ‘Pathfinder,’” the affidavit alleged.
“Baker advised that he picked McCormick up at a residence in Drumright and brought him to Cushing. Baker said he was taking him home when I stopped him,” the Cushing police chief wrote in his affidavit.
“Baker denied the Crown Royal bag, which was found in his console and the pipe inside. Baker did admit to the baggy containing Q-tips and other smaller baggies and advised they were for necklaces and earrings,” the affidavit alleged.
Later that morning, “Officer Livergood advised that he reviewed his dash camera video of the stop,” that “captured the baggy containing the crystalized substance being dropped from McCormick’s person,” the affidavit alleged.
A field test on the crystalized substance from the large baggy tested positive as methamphetamine, the affidavit said.
A field test on the burnt residue inside the broken glass smoking pipe tested positive as methamphetamine, the affidavit said.
According to state Department of Corrections records, McCormick got out of prison four years ago after serving eight years of a 22-year jury-recommended sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County in 2002.
McCormick had previously been convicted of drug trafficking in Oklahoma County in 1990, for which he served about four months of an 18-month sentence, DOC records show.
McCormick had also been convicted of concealing stolen property in Oklahoma County in 2000, for which he served about two months of an 18-month sentence, DOC records show.
McCormick had previously been convicted of concealing stolen property and second-degree forgery in Oklahoma County in 1995, for which he was placed on five years’ probation in 1996, DOC records show.
Last December, Baker was placed on five years’ probation under a deferred sentence in the Drumright division of Creek County District Court for possession of methamphetamine in Oilton in 2014, court records show.
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