A 25-year-old Porter man and his mama are behind bars tonight, after some very poor judgment and even worse luck led to their arrest on felony charges.
Travis Edwin Huffman was trying to arrange a narcotics transaction via text message, but he dialed the wrong number. Instead of Huffman’s intended customer, the text went to the phone of a deputy with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office. Narcotics investigators responded to the message and communicated with Huffman until they reached an agreement to meet Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of the Porter Walmart on the southbound side of Hwy 59, where an undercover officer purchased Hydrocodone pills from Huffman, who set up shop in his vehicle.
Lt. Mark Seals and Sgt. Ricky Warwick placed Huffman under arrest following the transaction. Officers including Pct. 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden and Chief Deputy Barry Welch then went to Huffman’s residence where they found Huffman’s mother, 43-year-old Kimberly “Butterbean” Meadows, in possession of marijuana.
After Meadows, who lists her occupation as “disabled” was taken into custody for the marijuana, she voluntarily stated she gave her son a certain quantity of Hydrocodone pills, which he was supposed to sell and then share the proceeds. Huffman confirmed his mother’s statement and both are now charged with state jail felony Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
Constable Hayden said he was surprised and somewhat amused at the unusual sequence of events.
“We’ve arrested a large number of people for selling narcotics in East County, but this is the first time I can recall a dealer who we were unaware of contacting us to set up a transaction,” Constable Hayden said. “What Mr. Huffman did today was kind of a self-service felony arrest.”
To make matters more bizarre, he said, Huffman’s mother already knew she was dealing with police when she admitted her involvement in the narcotics transaction.
“We arrested Ms. Meadows on a misdemeanor marijuana charge and she talked her way into a felony charge,” Constable Hayden said.
While the details surrounding their arrest were almost comical, the Constable said it was important to remember the real issue was that this family was actively contributing to the illegal drug problem in East County, which is no laughing matter.
