Expired Tags Lead To Drug Arrest

ON WEDNESDAY, NEWPORT OFFICER WILLIAM GARBER OBSERVED A TRUCK TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE COSBY WITH EXPIRED TAGS. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER, MARK HOUGE COULD NOT PROVEDE PROOF OF REGUSTRATION OR INSURANCE FOR THE VEHICLE. WHEN ASKED IF HE HAD ANYTHING ILLEGAL IN HIS VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER STATED THAT IF HE DID HAVE ANYTHING ILLEGAL, IT WOULD BE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER GAVE CONCENT FOR SEARCH. MR. HOUGE HAD SEVERAL KNIVES IN HIS POCKET AND A PILL BOTTLE CONTAINING 1 GRAM OF SUSPECTED METHAMPHETAMINE ALONG WITH TWO CUT STRAWS AND A RAZOR BLADE CONCISTENT WITH DRUG USE. WHILE SEARCHING THE VEHICLE, OFFICERS FOUND A SMALL PILL CONTAINER CONTAINING 1.02 GRAMS OF SUSPECTED METH AND A PLASTIC BAGGY WITH .29 GRAMS OF SUSPECTED METH. MR HOUGE WAS ARRESTED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE COCKE COUNTY JAIL FOR POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE 2 AND PARAPHENALIA.