A Marshalltown man was stopped for a driving infraction Thursday afternoon on U.S. Interstate 80 and was allegedly found to have meth and a pistol in his possession.
Chad Anthony Betts, 46, of 105 S. Seventh Ave., Marshalltown, was charged with dominion/control of a firearm/offensive weapon by a felon, third or subsequent offense possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The incident began about 5:45 p.m. Thursday near the 106 mile marker of eastbound U.S. Interstate 80, where an Iowa State Patrol Trooper observed a traffic violation by the driver of a 2004 Nissan Maxima.
The trooper initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Betts. In the course of the stop, the trooper “gained reasonable articulable suspicion” to believe Betts “was engaged in criminal activity,” according to court records.
A K9 unit was dispatched to the scene, and the dog “provided a positive indication to the suspect vehicle for the odor of narcotics,” according to court records.
A “probable-cause search” ensued, disclosing “five used meth pipes, one small glass bowl containing meth residue and approximately 1.2 grams of methamphetamine inside of a clear, plastic baggy,” according to court records.
A Taurus TCP .380 handgun with six rounds of .380 ammunition in the magazine and a second magazine with six rounds were also found in the course of the search.
Betts allegedly “admitted he is a meth user” and that he owned “the meth and pipes and was also the owner of the handgun,” according to court records.
Betts is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 14 in Dallas County District Court.
Betts was convicted of a controlled substance violation in 2001 in Marshall County District Court. He was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2004 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of second-offense possession of a controlled substance in 2015 in Cerro Gordo County District Court. He was convicted of a controlled substance violation in 2016 in Marshall County District Court. He was convicted of second-offense possession of a controlled substance in 2017 in Marshall County District Court. He was convicted of third or subsequent offense possession of a controlled substance in 2017 in Marshall County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
