5 arrested on meth charges in Rock Hill

Five people were arrested on methamphetamine charges after they were seen conducting a drug transaction in the parking lot of a Rock Hill store, according to police.

Officers responded to Dollar General on East Main Street about 11:15 a.m. Sunday after someone reported two women transferring money, according to a Rock Hill police report. They met with the occupants of a Ford Explorer and a Ford Ranger.

Mark Dwayne Huffstetler, 51, told officers he picked up 32-year-old Toni Michelle Crocker and 22-year-old Shelbi Keith so Crocker could purchase tattoo equipment, the report states. Inside Huffstetler’s vehicle, officers found a small plastic bag containing .12 grams of methamphetamine and a clear cup containing another bag of about .47 grams of meth.

The owner of the Ford Ranger, Bryan Carpenter, 24, denied consent to search his vehicle, police said. A drug dog alerted on the passenger door of the truck, and inside the truck officers found a small Velcro case that held two plastic bags, each containing .39 grams and 1.36 grams of meth, the report states. Also in the truck was another small plastic bag that contained .15 grams of meth and a bubble gum case containing six Xanax bars.

The passenger in the Ford Ranger, Kara Lee Comstock, 28, told officers she came to the parking lot to bring her cousin, Crocker, money from her mother, and that she knew nothing about the narcotics in the truck.

Carpenter said he knew he was driving Comstock to meet her cousin, and that he also knew nothing about the drugs, police said. All three suspects in the Ford Explorer told officers they didn’t know to whom the meth in the SUV belonged.

Carpenter and Comstock were each charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, according to the report. Carpenter remained jailed Monday, and Comstock was released Monday morning on bond.

Keith and Crocker were each charged with possession of methamphetamine, according to the report. Both were released Monday on bond.

Huffstetler, who police say has a previous meth conviction, was charged with possession of methamphetamine-second offense. He remained jailed Monday under $6,000 bond.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 2:10 PM with the headline "5 arrested on meth charges in Rock Hill."