New law helps get some drug paraphernalia off the streets of Bigelow.

Act 895 of 2015 section 19 (16-93-106) allows Law Enforcement Officers to conduct a warrantless search of someone on probation or parole, their home, or their vehicle day or night.

That’s just what Sheriff Scott Montgomery, Chief Deputy John Nichols along with assistance from the Ark. Game and Fish Officer Robbie Stout and Ark. State Police Officer Kevin Growns did on September 23, 2015.

Deputies Nichols and Story responded to a call of a man walking on Underwood road, he was carrying a pocket knife and was bleeding, according to the 911 caller. Upon arrival the man could not be found.

Approximately 30 minutes later a white male approaches Sheriff Montgomery, Trooper Growns, and Game and Fish Officer Stout and stated “I’m the guy your looking for”, he went on to explain that he was the guy walking down Underwood road with a knife. The man explained that he was at 123 Jessie St. last night and that he and a subject had gotten into a fight and that subject had pushed him off the porch, when he fell he hit his hand on a concrete block and cut himself. The man went on to say that they were doing drugs there as well.

The owner of the home at 123 Jessie St. is Matthew Kirk (49 yrs. old) and he is on probation for Commercial Burglary. The above Officers went to his residence and advised him of the new law. Mr. Kirk’s girlfriend (Brandi Helfrich, 39 yrs. old, of Bigelow) was there and she spontaneously uttered “yah we did some dope last night” and then told Officers how she did it and where the drug paraphernalia was at in the house.

A complete search of the residence was done and both parties was arrested and charged with four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia (three felony and one misdemeanor). Both are in being held in the Perry County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.