Joaquin, TX - On November 3, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Carmen Fears and Misty Ray initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to display a license plate on the rear of the vehicle and no license plate lamps on Highway 84 inside the Joaquin city limits.

Deputy Fears approached the vehicle and found Michael Harper, 34, of Shreveport, LA in the driver’s seat. Deputy Fears made contact with Harper and obtained a temporary license tag for the vehicle and his driver’s license. Fears ran the tag for the vehicle and no record of the tag was found and Harper’s driver’s license came back suspended.At that time, Deputy Fears placed Harper under arrest for driving with an invalid driver’s license and advised a wrecker would be in route to tow his vehicle. When placed in the patrol unit, Deputy Fears informed Harper she would be conducting a standard vehicle inventory on his vehicle, at which time Harper became very distraught and demanded a supervisor and an attorney. Deputy Fears advised Harper she would contact her supervisor for him to speak with.

While inventorying the vehicle, Deputy Ray advised Deputy Fears that Harper was kicking the windows of the patrol unit. Leg irons were requested to prevent Harper from hurting himself or damaging the unit.

During the inventory, Deputy Fears found a clear glass pipe in the console. A small black carrying case was found in the driver’s side floorboard. Inside the bag were numerous baggies containing a crystal-like substance. Field-testing determined the substance was methamphetamine. The weight of the narcotics totaled 10.08 grams.

In the trunk of the vehicle, numerous bags containing clothing and personal care items were found along with scales, cell phones, tablets, butane lighters and a laptop computer. Harper’s wallet also contained numerous credit cards with names of various individuals.

Harper was booked into the SCSO for: Possession of a controlled substance (felony 4), delivery of a controlled substance (felony 1), and driving while license invalid (misdemeanor C).