Jasper Police Department
Man facing multiple drug charges
Officers with the Jasper Police Department were dispatched to a reckless driver complaint on Thursday, June 4 at 8 a.m. The vehicle and driver, 43-year-old Jackson Deffendall of Petersburg, were followed into the Home Depot parking lot. While making contact with Deffendall, officers learned his driver’s license was suspended and the vehicle he was driving had false and fictitious registration. An inventory of the vehicle was conducted, during which officers located methamphetamine, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Due to health reasons, Deffendall was cited into court instead of being taken to the security center; he is being charged with dealing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine, both level 5 felonies; possession of a hypodermic needle/syringe, a level 6 felony; and class A misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and driving while suspended.
Vandalism
Jasper Police began an investigation regarding vandalism to a sign and park benches at the Riverwalk 15th Street parking area on May 29. On June 2, additional vandalism was reported at the Riverwalk near the River Center, as well as at Walmart and IGA. All of the incidents involved spray-painting both public and private property. Jasper Police made arrests the evening of June 2, holding two individuals accountable for the criminal acts against IGA and Walmart. A 17-year-old male was referred to the Juvenile Probation Office for an offense that would be two class A misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief. Twenty-year-old Morgan Decker of Jasper was also charged in connection with the IGA and Walmart vandalisms; police say Decker was not present during the criminal acts but purchased the spray paint for the juvenile and knew it was going to be used for vandalism. The pair are not believed to be associated with the Riverwalk incidents, which Jasper Police Department is still actively investigating. Anyone with information regarding the Riverwalk vandalisms should call the Jasper Police Department at 812-482-2255 or anonymously at 812-481-COPS.
Domestic battery arrest
Officers were dispatched to 1354 Male Leaf Drive for a domestic violence incident in progress on June 1. Upon arriving, officers learned that the alleged perpetrator, 31-year-old Joshua Lee Mattingly, had left the residence. Mattingly was later located and arrested on charges of domestic battery, intimidation and criminal confinement.
