Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Justin Hudman, left, and Tasheena Jackson were arrested on multiple drug charges after officers located thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl during a DUI investigation.
Police seize thousands of fentanyl pills and ounces of meth
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A welfare check on a driver who had apparently passed out with his vehicle running for hours led to the arrest of two alleged fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers.
A Safford officer was dispatched at about 8:26 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, regarding a black Nissan Sentra that had been parked but running since 5 a.m.
Upon arrival, the officer located the driver, Justin Trey Matthew Hudman, 25, asleep at the wheel. According to the officer, upon waking, Hudman showed signs of impairment which prompted a field DUI test since the car was running with Hudman behind the wheel.
Hudman initially refused the officer’s request to search the vehicle, but after failing field sobriety tests he was taken into custody. After doing so, an officer noticed two blue pills that are consistent with counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl which is predominant in the area. When asked about the pills, Hudman said the officers would find a lot more.
A variety of drugs and paraphernalia was found, but the large contraband was in a green camouflage backpack and contained approximately 2,000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and a couple of ounces of methamphetamine. Hudman claimed the drugs belonged to his roommate, Tasheena Jackson, 36, and that he sold the drugs for her and that there was more back at their apartment. He also advised of a guard dog.
Officers then received a search warrant for the residence and were joined in on the raid by Thatcher officers and a Graham County Sheriff’s Office sergeant. Jackson was seen outside the residence with her dog and complied with the officers’ orders. The dog was removed from the scene and Jackson was taken into custody without incident while her apartment was searched.
She allegedly told investigators she had recently re-upped her supply with 500 counterfeit Oxycodone pills and about 2.5 ounces of meth. The pills and meth seized in the apartment by officers included more than 100 grams of fentanyl pills and about an ounce of meth. Jackson allegedly admitted to selling the pills for $3 per pill.
After her arrest, she was charged with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. A warrant for her arrest with those charges was served Tuesday, May 9, and listed a $50,000 bond.
The warrant was also for a separate case regarding charges of fraudulent schemes and artifices and theft. Her bond, in that case, was set at $25,000.
Jackson also has an additional case regarding charges of possession of a narcotic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia from March that she failed to appear. Her bond in that case was set at $5,000. So, in total, Jackson is being held behind bars on $80,000 worth of bonds while awaiting adjudication.
After his DUI investigation was over, a Safford officer began to transport Hudman to jail but Hudman fled on foot. When the officer attempted to stop him, Hudman allegedly struck the officer several times and attempted to bite the officer’s arm. The officer then took Hudman to the ground and into control as other law enforcement arrived to assist. The incident led officers to add charges of escape and aggravated assault to Hudman’s docket. He was also arrested on charges of DUI, DUI-drug, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to online court records, Hudman has also been charged with fraudulent schemes and artifices and theft in a case separate from the DUI and drug investigation. He also has a separate additional open shoplifting case.
However, he was ordered released from jail after two days and records indicate charges have yet to be filed against him for his DUI and drug case.
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