Staff Writer

Being drunk in public helped land a Union woman in jail on a drug charge Saturday morning.

Heather Lee Johnson, 21, 115 Wedgewood Court, is charged by the Union County Sheriff's Office with public drunkenness and possession of a controlled substance.

According to a report filed by the arresting deputy, Sgt. James Johnson, he walked into the Kangaroo Mart on Lockhart Highway shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday when the clerk directed him to Ms. Johnson, who was sitting at one of the store's tables. He went over and spoke to Ms. Johnson, who he said was acting in a very intoxicated manner and had a strong odor of alcohol on her person.

Ms. Johnson told the sergeant she had been dropped off at the store by some friends and was waiting on her brother. She also told him she drank six beers and had taken some Klonopin for which she said she had a prescription.

Ms. Johnson then gave Johnson permission to search her bags and person. As he conducted the search, he noticed Ms. Johnson put something in her shirt next to her breast. He asked her to grasp the front of her shirt and pull it away from her person.

When she did, a small, clear plastic cigarette wrapper fell out from under Ms. Johnson's shirt to the floor. The wrapper contained half of a white, bar-shaped tablet with G37 on one side and a white, round pill with 574 on one side. The round pill was later identified as a controlled narcotic.

Ms. Johnson was taken into custody and transported to the Union County Jail where she was held until making bond Sunday.

Burglaries

The sheriff's office is investigating two burglaries that occurred this past week involving the theft and/or damage of over $2,500 worth of property.

The first burglary occurred between 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. Friday at the concession stand at the South Hills Sports Complex. The victim told deputies that someone had removed the padlock from the door and took a white refrigerator valued at $350 from the concession stand. The padlock, which was also taken, was valued at $15.

The second burglary occurred between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at a trailer at 237 Byrd St., Union. The victim told deputies that someone broke a window, entered her trailer and took a 47-inch Vizio TV valued at $2,000 from the living room and a small gray safe valued at $100 from the bedroom. Damage to the window was estimated at $50.

Forgery

Larry Charles Black Jr., 36, 149 Mudbridge Road, Buffalo, was charged by the sheriff's office with forgery Friday morning.