Outstanding warrants stop leads to drug, child abuse charges

A Pensacola man was arrested on drug and child abuse charges after being stoped for outstanding out-of-county warrants by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, July 13.

Ronald Harvey, Jr. was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, driving while license suspended or revoked and child abuse, in addition to the outstanding warrants from Escambia County.

Earlier that day, the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office received a be on the lookout alert from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for a blue 2000s model Dodge pickup truck. HCSO was informed that the driver of the vehicle had active warrants out of Escambia County.

While patrolling on I-10, a Holmes County deputy noticed a vehicle matching the description and conducted a traffic stop on the westbound off ramp in Ponce de Leon.

The deputy made contact with Harvey and informed him of the warrants.

Harvey was taken into custody and a vehicle inventory was conducted. During this process, the deputy discovered
a container with methamphetamine inside and another container with two cotton swabs soaked in liquid, commonly used with methamphetamine.

A juvenile was also present in the vehicle, and the narcotics were located within the child’s reach. The juvenile was safely released to the mother.