Casper police are saying that what began as an investigation into a stabbing has resulted in the arrest of three people on drug related charges.  According to police a local couple was arrested and booked into jail on recommended charges including Controlled Substance Possession and Child Endangerment with Drugs.  A third suspect on the scene has been arrested on charges of Drug Possession.
Police responded to the scene just before noon on Monday June 6, 2017. Â Officers had received reports that 28-year-old Ashley J. Hodges of Casper had stabbed her live-in boyfriend, 37-year-old Jake Perea. Â Police paperwork says that upon arrival Perea greeted officers on the front porch, saying that he was “fine” and denying that Hodges was even in the residence.
Officers say that Perea agreed to let officers enter the residence, where police found spots of dried blood on the floor, prompting a safety sweep of the residence.
Inside the home Hodges was located with a young boy in the basement of the home. An arrest affidavit describes Hodges as “hiding” in a basement bathroom.  Another individual was also located in the home, 35-year-old Joshua Finley.
Police say that while speaking with Hodges, saying that the suspect spoke rapidly and was unable to stand still, making “rapid, jerky body movements while speaking.” Even though Hodges denied the stabbing assault having ever taken place, arrest paperwork says that Hodges told Police she had used methamphetamine the previous evening. The report goes on to say that Hodges initially denied having any illegal drugs in the home, she later said that she had a pipe and some marijuana in her room.
During a search of the home, officers report finding a pipe containing white residue, later tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, as well as other paraphernalia relating to methamphetamine and marijuana. Police noted that there was a baby’s crib in the room as well.
Investigators report also finding several containers with suspected marijuana or suspected methamphetamine residue on them, a tooter, and a used syringe among other items.
In a bedroom described as having been used by Finley, officers say they discovered a Marijuana roach and a marijuana pipe with suspected marijuana residue.
Perea said that he was living in the home with Hodges, but sometimes did not share the bedroom with her.  He denied knowledge of the methamphetamine located in the home, but police that Perea admitted to using methamphetamine a week prior.
Finley advised he had been staying in the home off and on and would stay in different rooms inside the home. Â He denied any knowledge of the marijuana pipe found in the bedroom he had most recently been using.
Finley was booked into jail on a recommended charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana.
Perea was booked into jail on recommended charges of Controlled Substance Possession- Meth, Controlled Substance Possession Marijuana, and Child Endangerment with Drugs.
Hodges was booked into jail on recommended charges of Controlled Substance Possession- Meth, Controlled Substance Possession Marijuana, Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, and Child Endangerment with Drugs.
The children living in the suspect home were put into protective custody.
Charges in any criminal case are subject to change. Any suspect is considered innocent until otherwise proven in a court of law.
