Authorities say NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was arrested Tuesday night on drug charges. Mayfield was arrested in his home in the town of Catawba on possession of methamphetamine charges, according to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies had gone to Mayfield’s home to execute a search warrant on a tip there were stolen goods in the house. During the search, deputies found the methamphetamine. They also found items that may be stolen but deputies have not verified the items taken are in fact stolen property. Mayfield has a scheduled court appearance Wednesday morning. His is out of jail on a $3,000 bond.(WBTV)(11-2-2011)
UPDATE: A “large amount” of stolen goods were recovered from Mayfield’s property, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives said they recovered items that had been stolen from Lee Boy, Inc., which is located on Highway 16 north, and Larry Grant, Inc., a trucking company in Lincolnton. The items recovered for Lee Boy, Inc., included heavy equipment parts, scrap metal, welders and welding accessories, the Sheriff’s Office said. Investigators said the items recovered for Larry Grant, Inc., including truck parts, an engraving machine, truck mirrors and electric motor controllers. The items recovered are worth around $100,000, the Sheriff’s Office said. They were found in a building and trailers on Mayfield’s property and were returned to the owners, investigators said.(WSOC)(11-2-2011)
UPDATE 2: Statement from NASCAR: “Having just heard and read the news about the Jeremy Mayfield incident, we will have to see how the facts play out. NASCAR’s goal in its Substance Abuse program has always been to keep competitors safe and create treatment opportunities for those who need it.”(11-2-2011)
UPDATE 3: Jeremy Mayfield’s attorney says Mayfield had no knowledge of the stolen items nor the methamphetamine found on his property that lead to his arrest Tuesday. Mayfield attorney Daniel Marino issued a statement Tuesday night: “Last evening, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search at the home of Jeremy Mayfield,” the statement said. “Mr. Mayfield understands that the purpose of the search was to seize allegedly stolen property and that the investigators claim to have seized methamphetamine from his home. Mr. Mayfield has no knowledge of either stolen property or methamphetamine being present on his property and denies the accusation that he was in possession of methamphetamine or any other illegal drug and he denies any suggestion that he knowingly received or possessed stolen property.” Marino also represents the former NASCAR driver in his lawsuit against NASCAR over his suspension for a May 2009 failed drug test. Marino’s statement Tuesday indicated that Mayfield is cooperating with authorities. Mayfield’s next court date on the drug charge is scheduled for Nov. 14. “This search was prompted by what the evidence will show were baseless allegations by an unreliable source,” the statement said. “Mr. Mayfield and his attorneys are cooperating with the authorities and they look forward to this matter being resolved quickly. In the meantime, Mr. Mayfield asks that the public reserve its judgment on this matter.”(Scene Daily)(11-3-2011)
UPDATE 4: A confidential source told authorities that Jeremy Mayfield was stealing to support his drug habit. A search warrant obtained by Eyewitness News says the source knew specific details about reported break-ins and thefts and said Mayfield was involved in it all and that all the stolen property would be found at his home. On Monday, police seized hundreds of items — mostly tools, metals and machinery — worth $100,000. They also said they found 1.5 grams of meth and a meth pipe. The confidential source said he or she watched Mayfield purchase and consume meth “over 500 separate times,” saying Mayfield stole to support his drug habit. Deputies will likely go in front of a grand jury on Monday, hoping to add charges of possessing stolen property.(WSOC) The complete arrest warrant is available on the WSOC website (PDF file).(11-3-2011)
