JPD: Couple charged after using tax refund to buy drugs | Crime

Jonesboro police say a couple used their tax refund to buy drugs, including crystal meth.  Now they may need that cash to get out of jail.

On Tuesday night officers arrested 27-year-old Terry Lynn Stafford and 29-year-old Crystal Elizabeth Stafford on multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a minor.

Around 10:30 p.m. police were called to the 1400-block of Stone Street regarding a man bleeding with a hypodermic needle sticking out of his arm.

When officers arrived they found Terry Stafford “making jerky, unnecessary movements with his body,” according to the initial police report. 

Crystal Stafford reportedly told police “they had gotten tax money and went to buy drugs.” 

During questioning, officers say she began to brush a “crystal-like substance onto the floor” believed to be methamphetamines.

After receiving consent to search the home, officers said they found 1.9 grams of methamphetamine valued at $100, .13 ounces of marijuana valued at $30, 2.4 grams of dilaudid valued at $200, two silver spoons with residue and two hypodermic syringes

Crystal Stafford reportedly told officers she and her husband had been “smoking marijuana and shooting  meth” with the needles.

But, she told officers they were “being safe by breaking the needles before they placed them in the trash so that the kids did not get poked by them.”

Police say three children under the age of 12 were in the home at the time.  They were released into the care of a family member.

Terry and Crystal Stafford were arrested and taken to the Craighead County Detention Center where they were charged with the following:

• Possession of a controlled substance (felony)
• Possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor)
• Endangering the welfare of a minor (misdemeanor)
• Possession of drug paraphernalia (felony)
• Tampering with physical evidence (felony)
• Obstructing governmental operations (misdemeanor)