By Kelsey Givens

Police arrested six people over the weekend on methamphetamine-related charges, reportedly removing more than 11 grams of the illegal substance from the streets of Pahrump.

From Thursday evening to Sunday night, one Nye County Sheriff’s detective and several deputies were able to apprehend the alleged drug abusers through several traffic stops and observation operations set up outside the homes of known meth users.

The first arrest came Thursday around 9 p.m. when a deputy reportedly witnessed a maroon colored Honda Accord without license plate lights and allegedly speeding in the area of Irene Street and Lola Lane.

Raymond Cook, the driver of the vehicle, and his passenger, Angelique Ball, were subsequently pulled over and immediately recognized by the deputy as individuals known to be involved with narcotics.

Cook allegedly admitted to the officer he had knives in the vehicle and a firearm on his person, and was asked to step out of the car.

A second officer who had arrived on scene assisted in removing the firearm, described as a .380 automatic, from Cook’s person, before placing him under arrest for carrying a concealed weapon.

As he was being searched, Cook reportedly began to shake uncontrollably, telling one deputy he had “really screwed up,” admitting to the officer he had drugs in his pocket.

Two baggies of what appeared to be methamphetamine, weighing more than 5 grams collectively, and a $100 bill were found in a cigarette pack in his shirt pocket, which are consistent with the sale of narcotics.

Police also reportedly found an electronic scale, glass pipe and a knife in his vehicle as well.

Cook was transported to the Nye County Detention Center from the scene and booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine, sales of a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the Uniformed Controlled Substance Act, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed weapon, prohibited person carrying a firearm, possession of dangerous weapon and license plate light required.

Ball was released from the stop pending further investigation into her involvement, but was picked up on charges of trafficking and conspiring to sell methamphetamine later on Sunday.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, a detective decided to sit in his vehicle several houses down from Ball’s residence and conduct surveillance around 9:55 p.m.

He soon after observed a truck pull into the woman’s driveway for approximately 10 seconds while an individual got in, before taking off southbound on Barney Street. Following the vehicle, the detective reportedly witnessed the driver stop at the intersection of Barney Street and Mesquite Avenue for several seconds before turning eastbound, not using a turn signal until she was already making the turn.

The detective then pulled the vehicle over, identifying the driver as Gina McDaniel and the passenger as Ball.

During the stop, the report notes Ball allegedly gave the detective permission to search her belongings, including her phone, which was ringing constantly.

Text messages on the phone showed someone asking Ball if she had “2 grams for $180,” and other messages between Ball and McDaniel referencing dollar amounts of $140 and $150 just before the traffic stop.

McDaniel reportedly denied knowing anything about the methamphetamine, telling the detective she was just giving Ball a ride to the store.

Ball, however, said McDaniel was the one with the drugs, and that she had just been trying to set up a sale for her through text messages.

After trying to place blame on one another, the two women reportedly began to argue about what store they were going to and who was telling the detective the truth.

Both females were then placed under arrest for charges of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, trafficking, conspiracy to violate the Uniformed Controlled Substance Act, attempted sales of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and transported to the local jail.

A search of McDaniel at the detention center later yielded six grams of methamphetamine on her person.

Using the same surveillance-type operation, the same detective was also able to arrest another two individuals Sunday evening after reportedly witnessing them conducting an illegal drug transaction outside of one of their homes.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, the detective had been receiving multiple reports that Barbara Bell, with whom he has a long history of drug arrests and was recently arrested with her daughter after calling police to report a possible homicide, was buying and using meth again.

The detective decided to set up surveillance in his car near her home in the 2000 block of Pilot Place around 6:30 p.m. Shortly after beginning his operation, the detective reportedly saw a female, later identified as Lynn Barwell, pull into Bell’s driveway on a moped, stopping at her gate. Barwell was then allegedly seen handing Bell what appeared to be baggies in exchange for U.S. currency.

At that point the detective got out of his vehicle and identified himself as a member of the sheriff’s office, ordering the two women to put their hands up.

Bell allegedly tried to get away, throwing something from her right hand into a bush on the side of the driveway.

Both females were subsequently apprehended and a search of Bell’s driveway revealed two small baggies of methamphetamine, weighing .5 grams collectively, as well as a glass pipe with residue.

After searching Barwell, police reportedly found $40, which she said was the money Bell paid her for the methamphetamine, and an additional baggie of speed, weighing .25 grams as well. Barwell said she brought the extra bag in case Bell decided to buy more.

Both women were then taken into custody and transported to NCDC to be booked on charges of conspiracy to violate the Uniformed Controlled Substance Act and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. Bell received added charges of being under the influence of a controlled substance and concealing or destroying evidence and Barwell was also charged with sales of a controlled substance methamphetamine .

In addition to these arrests, police were also able to arrest another woman, Nicolle Lynn Mathans, after she was discovered to allegedly be in possession of heroin and a pipe appearing to contain methamphetamine residue during a traffic stop around 3:52 a.m. Sunday.