Sitting by the roadside with a backpack full of drugs didn’t really work out all that well for a Madison man visiting DeKalb County over the weekend.

On Saturday morning (March 30th), the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a male subject seen sitting near a gas station located at the intersection of Highway 35 and County Road 47.  DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said it was believed the individual had narcotics in his backpack.

A Deputy and Lieutenant arrived at the scene and spoke with the man, later identified as 45 year old George Matthews – who was soon found to be in possession of Marijuana, Cocaine, Hydrocodone pills, Alprazolam pills and Methamphetamine.  Matthews was taken into custody and on the way to the jail informed the Lieutenant that he had left his vehicle behind the Kangaroo gas station on Highway 35 in Ft Payne. Following an investigation of the vehicle, it was discovered to have been stolen from Birmingham.

Matthews was charged with the Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (four counts), Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the arrest: “DeKalb County is the home of several major highways and an interstate, meaning many stolen vehicles and narcotics could be passing through. Our deputies are actively patrolling these roads for suspicious activity, and we plan on increasing these patrols.”

“I’d like to commend our deputies for their hard work and due-diligence in making the arrest and following through with investigating the vehicle. I’d also like to encourage citizens to report any suspicious activity on our roadways by calling (256)845-3801,”