Creston K9 assists in drug charges for Tingley man

Fraudulent license plates led to multiple drug-related charges Friday for a Tingley man.

After finding methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop, Dirk W. Parrish, 43, of Tingley, was charged by Creston Police with four felony charges, including a controlled substance violation, failure to affix drug stamp and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense. Parrish was additionally charged with keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substance violations and cited for fraudulent use of registration, operating a non-registered vehicle and driving while suspended.

At approximately 9:10 a.m. a 2003 Cadillac DeVille was observed on Taylor Street. Officers ran the license plates on the Cadillac which came back to a 2005 Buick Park Avenue registered to Parrish. A license check of Parrish showed he was suspended.

A traffic stop was conducted at South Division and Taylor streets. Parrish gave officers a handwritten bill of sale for the Cadillac that had no purchase date and acknowledged knowing his license was suspended.

During the traffic stop, recently-added Creston Police K9 Olga was requested at the scene to perform a free-air sniff. Olga was deployed and gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotic odor coming from the vehicle. Before officers could conduct a probable-cause search, Parrish admitted to there being methamphetamine paraphernalia in the car.

A search of the Cadillac produced approximately 16.42 grams of methamphetamine, .37 grams of marijuana wax, used hypodermic needles, a methamphetamine pipe, a digital scale and baggies, both of which had methamphetamine residue, unused baggies and other miscellaneous paraphernalia. All of these items were found in a backpack along with paystubs and mail with Parrish’s name on them.

Parrish admitted to recently purchasing the half-ounce of methamphetamine in Osceola for $175.

In October 2021, Parrish was convicted of two controlled substance violations in Taylor County.

Parrish is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on all charges at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 in Union County District Court. He is being held in the Union County Jail on $42,000 cash or surety bond.