Fishing expedition leads to arrest of Carthage man on meth charge

 

A Carthage man was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance today after being arrested while fishing off a bridge on Garrison Avenue Wednesday evening.

According to the probable cause statement, a Missouri Department of Conservation agent spotted Scott Brandon Browning, (DOB 1983) fishing and asked him if he had a permit. Browning said he didn't have one.

I asked for Browning's identification and he gave it to me verbally. Browning appeared nervous and asked if he could have a cigarette. I told him that would be fine but that I'd like to look in the pack before he smoked one. He handed it to me. 

Inside I saw five cigarettes and a small plastic baggie containing a crystalline substance. I asked Browning if he had anything else on him that I needed to be aware of. He handed me a glass pipe, that appeared to be a meth pipe and a pipe that he said was for smoking marijuana.

Browning was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $3,000 cash or surety.