Record drug bust tainted by police officer’s alleged actions

What started as a reason to celebrate ended with a Comanche police officer getting fired earlier this month.

On May 9 at approximately 8:30 p.m., a traffic stop of a pickup truck at Highway 53 and Bunch St. led to the alleged discovery of nearly 225 grams (just shy of eight ounces) of meth. According to Comanche Police Chief Cory Faulk, it was a record haul of meth for the department in at least the last 10 years and possibly its  largest meth seizure ever.

Later, however, when officers were doing an inventory, Officer Brandon Dunn allegedly violated the suspect’s civil rights by checking messages and calls on the suspect’s phone without a warrant, according to the affidavit.

The incident began when Dunn initiated a traffic stop of a Chevy truck driven by Beth Ann Clark, age 48, of Velma, because a brake light was out. Officer Edgar Stevenson joined him on the stop.

The officers discovered that Clark had a pending court date for possession of a controlled and dangerous substance. Officers then received permission from Clark to search the vehicle.

During the search, the officers found small several baggies of white powder believed to be meth in a backpack on the front seat. A 9mm firearm was also recovered and the gun came back as stolen out of Oklahoma City. A tin can found in the vehicle also allegedly field tested positive for meth. 

Dunn transported Clark to jail while Stevenson continued to inventory the car. The car had several power tools that Stevenson wanted to check to see if they had been stolen. More drugs were allegedly found on Clark’s person while she was being booked into the Stephens County jail. 

Upon Dunn’s return to the Comanche police station around midnight, Stevenson was still inventorying the vehicle. Dunn allegedly asked Stevenson to let him see the suspect’s phone, which was unlocked. Stevenson told Dunn he needed to get a search warrant on the phone to do a data dump, and for the two tablets that were also seized.

Dunn asked how long it would take to get a warrant and Stevenson told him a couple of months, depending on OSBI’s case load. Dunn then allegedly began scrolling through messages on Clark’s phone. Stevenson advised Dunn to stop because he was possibly violating Clark’s Fourth Amendment right of unreasonable search and seizure. 

Stevenson said he told Dunn that if Dunn continued to look through the phone, they wouldn’t be able to get a warrant and it could possibly hurt the case.  Dunn then allegedly asked Stevenson why Stevenson had a problem with him going through the phone. Stevenson said he told Dunn it was illegal without a warrant or consent and they had neither. Dunn allegedly asked Stevenson if he had ever done anything illegal and that they would be okay if no one knew about it.

Stevenson said it was not okay and instructed Dunn to return the phone to the evidence bag. Stevenson said he did listen to some of what Dunn said was on the phone.

A wrecker service was called to take the truck away from the police department parking lot after the inventory. After the wrecker arrived, Dunn allegedly told the driver what he found on the phone. Stevenson said after the wrecker left that Dunn continued to go through the phone despite Stevenson’s protest. 

Stevenson contacted Faulk later in the day about the situation. Faulk instructed him that the case was now completely  his and Dunn was no longer allowed to touch anything associated with the case. 

Faulk told The Comanche Times an internal investigation was conducted and that Dunn was terminated. He said he did not know at that time if any charges would be brought against Dunn. 

Clark is being charged with three felony counts of trafficking in illegal drugs, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $200,000.