Tiffany Christensen

Christian Mayfield

Indiana Rodriguez

Mark Hopson

 

 

By Michael E. Palmer

Staff Writer

 

WINFIELD - Four individuals were arrested and charged with trafficking marijuana after a single vehicle wreck in the rain on Intestate 22 on June 5.

 

According to information released by Trooper Chris Barnes, commander of the Hamilton State Trooper Post, the wreck happened at mile-marker 32 during rainy conditions at about 6 p.m. that day.

 

Barnes said Christian Mayfield, 28, Memphis, Tenn., was driving a 2019 Dodge Ram westbound when he lost control of the vehicle. Barnes said Mayfield went into the median and struck the guardrail on the eastbound side. “He was driving too fast for conditions,” Barnes said.

 

According to Barnes, passersby reported the wreck to a local 911 operator and state troopers, along with members of Winfield Police Department, arrived to assist.  

 

Barnes said another call came in reporting that individuals at the wreck scene were disposing of objects off the bridge that traverses Little New River at mile marker 32.

 

Barnes said officials at the scene discovered that two individuals involved in the wreck were attempting to dispose of drugs. Barnes said at that point Winfield PD Investigator Lt. Rusty Hulsey, a member of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Region E Drug Task Force, was dispatched to take charge of the drug investigation.

“One of the male subjects was on top of the bridge throwing marijuana down to another male subject under the bridge,” Hulsey said. “They were trying to hide the marijuana.”

 

Hulsey said 2.4 pounds of marijuana and 492 vape cartridges containing THC oil were confiscated at the wreck scene. Hulsey said the vape cartridges, which contain a high-grade THC oil, are legal in California but are not legal in Alabama.

 

Hulsey said Mayfield was charged with trafficking, first-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence.

 

Also charged were: Mark Hopson, 30, Memphis, Tenn., Tiffany Christensen, 24, Peoria, Ariz., and Indiana Rodriguez, 25, Bronx, N.Y. All three were charged with trafficking, first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hopson was also charged with tampering with physical evidence.

 

Mayfield and Hopson are both being held on $261,000 bonds.

 

Christensen and Rodriguez are being held on $256,000 bonds and all four suspects remain in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton.

 

(When a defendant is charged with a crime, the charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.)