Suspicious vehicle at church leads to drug arrest

An alert citizen notified Holmes County Sheriff’s Office of a suspicious person which led to an arrest on drug charges and grand theft auto.

HCSO responded to Little Rock Church on February 11, after a call came in concerning a suspicious vehicle. When HCSO arrived, deputies found a truck behind the church hidden from view. The truck door was open, but no one was around.

A woman, identified as Riva Cripes, walked up to the vehicle but could not give an explanation why she was at the church or why the truck was hidden behind the church.

According to HCSO, the bed of the truck contained scrap metal and fresh cut copper.

Cripes began to be uncooperative and was placed under arrest for loitering and trespassing. Deputies conducted a search of the truck and found tools used for stealing copper wire and scrap metal. A syringe containing methamphetamine was found in Cripes purse.

The owner of the truck was contacted and told HCSO Cripes had the truck for about a week and refused to return it.

Cripes is charged with grand theft, loitering, trespassing, possession of methamphetamine, possession of burglary tools and possession of drug paraphernalia.