On December 7, 2013 at approximately 9:26 P.M. Deputy Steven Wakefield was patrolling on Hwy. 355 near Saratoga.  Deputy Wakefield observed a black and red truck driving left of the center line and also it had a light violation.  Deputy Wakefield stopped the vehicle and when he approached the vehicle he could smell a strong odor of an intoxicant coming from the driver.  The driver was identified as Ricky L. Gower w/m dob-5/15/1953 of Newhope, Ar.   Gower advised Deputy Wakefield that he had drank some whiskey earlier in the day.   Deputy Wakefield asked Gower to exit the vehicle while he searched for alcohol.  While Gower was getting out of the vehicle he reached back inside the vehicle and grabbed a glove and put it in this hood pocket.  Deputy Wakefield searched Gower and found a white plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine.    Gower was arrested and transported to the Howard County Jail where he is being charged for Possession of a Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine.  No bond has been set at this time. 

Sheriff Butch Morris