In the early morning hours of Saturday, September 12, 2020, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. Taylor Wallace was sitting stationary observing traffic on West 14 Highway when a vehicle passed by his location. Cpl. Wallace recognized the passenger as Laura Bengston, 29, of Ava. Wallace knew that Bengston had multiple outstanding warrants for her arrest.
Cpl. Wallace made a traffic stop that vehicle near Wal-Mart where the vehicle pulled into the Murphy USA parking lot. Bengston exited the vehicle and attempted to walk off at which time she was taken into custody. Located on her person at that time were two containers that contained methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia.
The driver was identified as James E. Frye, aka Rusty Frye, 56, of Squires. A search was conducted on the vehicle where various drug paraphernalia items were found, along with a brown substance that field tested positive for Heroin.
Cpl. Wallace then observed a glasses case lying on the ground a few feet from the driver’s door that was not there upon initial observation, and appeared to have been thrown out of the vehicle. Upon opening the case there were several baggies containing methamphetamine divided up for sale, as well as a large bag that contained approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine. Also seized from Frye was over $5,000 in cash. It was confirmed upon review of Cpl. Wallace’s dash cam that Frye had thrown the above container out of the vehicle.
Both subjects were transported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office where they were placed on a 24-hour hold pending a warrant. The following felony warrants were issued by the court:
James E. Frye (Rusty):
Delivery of a controlled Substance- methamphetamine Class C Felony
Possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine Class D Felony
Possession of a Controlled Substance- Heroin Class D Felony
Frye’s bond was set at a capias no bond.
Frye is currently on felony probation for possession of a controlled substance on a case investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in 2016. On the above mentioned 2016 case, Frye was sentenced to the department of correction for 15 years; however, that was suspended upon successful completion of a 120-day shock Department of Corrections incarceration. Frye was then released on probation where he has not exhibited the behavior of a model probationer since his probation assignment.
Laura Bengston:
Delivery of a controlled Substance- methamphetamine Class C Felony
Possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine Class D Felony
Possession of a Controlled Substance- Heroin Class D Felony
Bengston had previous outstanding warrants for Probation Violations for:
Warrant #1: a 2017 case for Probation Violation for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance
Warrant #2: a 2018 case for Probation Violation for Possession of a Controlled Substance
