Man Charged After Being Involved in Traffic Crash

A one-vehicle accident earlier this month resulted in the arrest of a Marion County man on accusations of having drugs and a loaded weapon.

 Among the charges against 46-year-old Lance Dell of Peel are simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, na Class Y felony.

According to the probable cause affidavit posted by KTLO, a pair of state troopers responded June 2 to the accident scene north of Summit. They observed the driver, identified as Dell, on the ground while using his soft cooler as a pillow, and his vehicle was upside down in the ditch.

When the tow truck arrived, Dell reportedly demanded the operator take the vehicle to his father’s residence. Authorities repeatedly told Dell to let the operator do his job, but he allegedly ignored their commands and continued to bother the operator.

Once the vehicle was on the road, Dell insisted he could drive it despite the caved-in front end. When he started the engine, the motor fan reportedly splintered into several pieces, and shards went toward the tow truck operator and the troopers. Dell was again told to back away and let the operator do his job.

Dell denied having alcohol in his cooler when the troopers asked, and he reportedly consented to a search. While one of the troopers opened the bag, Dell admitted to having a gun inside. After the trooper asked to be shown where the weapon was, Dell began sifting through the bag, and the other trooper reportedly spotted a loaded needle that later field tested positive for methamphetamine. The other items spotted in the cooler included a 9mm with 16 rounds of ammunition and a marijuana pipe.

Dell’s other charges include a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine) and misdemeanor counts of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing governmental operations, disorderly conduct and careless and prohibited driving. He is currently free from the Marion County Law Enforcement Center after posting a bond of $20,000.

(From KTLO)