Police make drug, burglary and vandalism arrests

New Albany police have made several arrests for drug and burglary offenses as well as a case of apparently pointless vandalism.

The vandalism case actually is likely related to drug use, Police Chief Chris Robertson said.

About 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18, police received a report that someone was vandalizing property in the vicinity of the Windshield Doctor on East Bankhead Street. A white male in a semi-truck was seen busting out the window of the New Haven transport bus there.

A witness was able to get a video of the incident and officers, after seeing the video, were able to locate the truck in the Wal-Mart area. They arrested the driver, Audie Keene, 64, of a Florida address.

“For some unknown reason he stopped, got out with a club or wooden board and busted the window with no apparent motive,” the chief said.

Keene has been charged with malicious mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

Keene was apparently just passing through town with no connection here so the only reason for the destruction appears to be that the suspect was under the influence of drugs, the chief said.

The first drug case occurred about 3 a.m. Sept. 19.

“Officers were operating a DL checkpoint when a Chevy Silverado came through,” Robertson said. “They smelled what they believed to be the odor of burnt marijuana.”

Officers asked the driver, Robert K. Nabors, 35, of Ripley, to get out of the truck and they then found a quantity of MDMA, also known an “molly,” or Ecstasy, and marijuana wax in the vehicle.

Nabors was charged with possession of a Schedule I narcotic and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In the third case, officers made a traffic stop on Brittney Spencer, 30, of Hickory Flat after she was seen driving at a high rate of speed on Bankhead Street about 8:30 p.m. Sept. 21.

Driving a red Mazda, she was finally pulled over on Moss Hill Drive, where she produced an ID card. Robertson said they found that she was a convicted felon as well as having a previous DUI charge.

Officers found a handgun in the vehicle console as well as miscellaneous drug paraphernalia and what appeared to be Xanax and Ecstasy. She was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule IV and I drugs, DUI and driving with a suspended license.

In the next case, officers were called to the Townhouse Apartments on Oxford Road for a possible vehicle burglary.

They found Scott Ensey standing next to a vehicle and after talking with him determined he had been in the vehicle and taken an EBT card from it. Both Ensey and the victim are residents of the apartment complex.

He was charged with burglary of an auto.

Finally, officers received word about a red Ford 150 driving carelessly and erratically on Hwy. 30 West. They stopped the vehicle driven by Hunter Campbell, 20, of Charleston, Miss., and smelled the odor of burnt marijuana, Robertson said.

Officers found a clear bag with a green substance in it and a small pill believed to be Ecstasy.

He was charged with driving under the influence first offense, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, no proof of insurance, having a switched tag and possession of ecstasy.