Ketchum, Idaho — A 56-year-old Ketchum resident, Brian Wayne Jackson, could face up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine following a police traffic stop in May, which led to charges of methamphetamine possession. The arrest ensued after a routine check for a license violation near Weyyakin Drive south of Ketchum, involving a sheriff’s office K-9 that signaled the presence of the drug.
Blaine County Sheriff’s Deputy Morgan Kish, who was part of the operation alongside Sgt. Garrett Ruckle and his K-9 partner, reported that the dog reacted to Jackson’s vehicle, prompting a thorough search. It was during this search that Kish discovered a syringe containing a brown liquid, initially claimed by Jackson to be woodworking glue. However, tests conducted in the field and later confirmed by an Idaho state lab indicated the substance was meth.
The subsequent legal proceedings saw Jackson slapped with a felony drug possession charge on May 28 by Blaine County Deputy Prosecutor Stacie Summerhill. In a court appearance on July 15, Jackson, represented by Public Defender Doug Nelson, pleaded not guilty, paving the way for a jury trial set for early November.
The case took a turn when Jackson’s probation officer, Alfredo Ojeda, disclosed that Jackson had missed several court-ordered drug tests in the months of May, June, and July. Further compounding his troubles, tests that he did submit to in July returned positive for meth or amphetamines.
Based on these developments, Blaine County Prosecutor Matt Fredback requested the revocation of Jackson’s $2,500 bond. Consequently, 5th District Judge Ned Williamson issued an arrest warrant on August 5. Jackson was apprehended on August 7 and briefly detained before being released on his own recognizance the following day.
Jackson’s trial is currently scheduled for November 6-7, where the charges will be examined in detail. The unraveling of this case continues to spotlight the local law enforcement’s ongoing battle against drug-related offenses in the region. It underscores the challenges faced by small towns grappling with the pervasive issues of substance abuse and the judiciary’s role in addressing repeat offenders. As the community awaits the trial, questions linger about the effectiveness of current drug policies and the resources available for tackling such dilemmas in rural settings.