Cocaine, fentanyl, meth seized from Sallisaw apartment

Two Sallisaw men are facing several drug-related charges along with a felony charge of child neglect after police reported finding cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drug paraphernalia in the apartment complex they were at.

Randy L. McDowell, 48, and Patrick L. McDowell, 30, were each charged on February 27 in Sequoyah County District Court and received $26,000 bonds. Court records show Randy McDowell’s bond was revoked due to his admittance of methamphetamine use and he is scheduled to appear before Judge Matt Orendorff on March 11. Patrick McDowell is slated for an April 10 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.

Both men are facing formal charges of unlawful possession of controlled drug with intent to distribute, child neglect and bringing contraband into jail. Randy McDowell is facing additional charges of possession of a synthetic controlled dangerous substance (fentanyl) and unlawful possession of controlled and dangerous substance, while Patrick McDowell is also charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

On the evening of Feb. 19, Sallisaw police officers traveled to an apartment on No Name Street after receiving information that drugs were allegedly being used in front of a minor child. Josey Beard reportedly answered the door holding a child under the age of two, and both Randy McDowell and Patrick McDowell were seen inside the apartment’s living room. Authorities told Beard that Department of Human Services was going to do a walk through of the residence due to the report of drugs allegedly being used in front of minor children. Police reported seeing a cut straw with white residue, along with a white substance on an end table next to where Randy McDowell was sitting. He reportedly admitted that the substance was methamphetamine and it belonged to him, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

After being taken into custody, he later told police the substance was cocaine. A search of his person yielded a knife, a baggy containing multiple syringes and a bag containing what was identified as cocaine. Sallisaw police returned with a search warrant where they also reportedly seized a used hypodermic needle and cut straw, and the white substance tested positive for cocaine.

Both suspects and Beard were transported to the Sallisaw Police Department. Beard was told at that time she was being booked into jail on charges of child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia, and was found to be a tribal member.

The McDowells were both booked in on charges of child neglect, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After being transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center, a jailer discovered a bag of pills in the booking area of the Sallisaw Police Department and charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of contraband were added to the two men’s charges.

Authorities were able to obtain video surveillance which reportedly showed Randy McDowell hiding contraband in two separate locations, and Patrick McDowell hiding substances as well. Police reported finding a rock powder substance weighing around nine grams and a plastic baggy containing multiple small blue pills, which appeared to be fentanyl.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said unlawful possession of controlled drug with intent to distribute is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than five years and a fine of not more than $20,000; child neglect is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding life imprisonment, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; while bringing contraband into jail is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for one to five years or a fine of $100 to $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine.