Malone councilman arrested

A Malone town council member was arrested on methamphetamine-related charges Friday, law enforcement officials report.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, investigators with the Jackson County Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on Highway 73 South in Marianna.

A news release from the task force identified the driver of the vehicle as Randall Stuart Ward.

The sheriff’s office reported that a narcotics detection canine was deployed during the traffic stop. After an open-air check of the vehicle, the canine alerted to the odor of narcotics being emitted from the driver’s door of the vehicle.

“A search of the vehicle revealed a box of pseudoephedrine cold pills and three bottles of iodine tincture. Also, Randall Ward was in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine and a straw used to ingest methamphetamine,” a sheriff’s office press release said.

Ward was placed under arrest on charges of possession of listed chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was booked into the Jackson County Correctional Facility to await first appearance in court on these charges, the sheriff’s office reported.

Ward has served on the Malone town council since 2005. In the 2005 election, Ward collected the highest number of votes in the council election, garnering 94 votes.

He has also served as a coach for the Hope School Falcons, and the Malone baseball and basketball teams.