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PRYOR, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service made an unusual drug bust with the help of their canine companion.

Joshua Thomas, 26, of Choteau, Rick Tyner, 23, of Tulsa, Tylor Barger, 18, of Claremore, and Angelicia Baggs, 21, of Pryor were arrested at the Microtel Inn and Suites in Pryor. All four are charged with attempting to manufacture controlled dangerous substances (CDS), possession of CDS and possession of drug paraphernalia. They are being held at the Mayes County Jail, awaiting arraignment.

Brett Mull, Cherokee Nation Marshal, assisting two Oklahoma Highway Patrolmen, pulled over a car for routine traffic violations at the hotel near Highway 59. Mull’s drug dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle and subsequently found methamphetamines, ephedrine and hoses.

The three men were in the car and all claimed to have rooms at the Microtel Inn. When asked, Thomas agreed to allow the officers to search his room at the hotel. The officers found a methamphetamine lab underneath the bed and an ice chest full of chemicals and a hotplate in the closet area of the room. After these findings more Cherokee Nation Marshals were called in to investigate.

Upon further investigation, officers found that the manager of the Microtel Inn and Suites was an accomplice to the three men. Angelicia Baggs, 21, of Pryor, agreed to have her room searched. The officers found drug paraphernalia in Baggs’ room. More paraphernalia was found outside the premises in her vehicle.

"She was allowing the boys to stay at the motel without paying", said Donnie Bowin, who works in the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service narcotics division. "They could come and go as they pleased. She had given them a swipe card that could get them in any of the rooms."

The owner of the hotel came from Oklahoma City and assisted the officers in checking every room in the hotel that wasn’t occupied.

"The owner was elated that we caught them and was willing to help us in any way possible", Bowin said. "Two or three of the rooms were occupied, but the others, the boys could just run amuck in."

No drugs were found in the other rooms, however.

"It was a good cooperative effort between the Highway Patrol and the Cherokee Nation Marshall Service", Bowin said. "We have a good relationship with one another and it shows."

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671