A 48-year-old man who arrest reports say stole some beef jerky from a convenience store Monday and then returned to the store a few hours later is facing a felony narcotics charge after deputies found him in possession of heroin.
Matthew James McNickles of 829 Sanctuary Road, Golden Gate Estates, was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrest reports gave this account:
Shortly before 9 a.m., deputies were dispatched to 7-Eleven, 14344 Immokalee Road in Golden Gate Estates. Deputies were advised that a man and a woman who had stolen beef jerky and a case of water from the store around 4 a.m. were back.
When deputies arrived at the store they spotted a blue Lincoln passenger vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle leaving the store parking lot. The Lincoln rolled through a stop sign at the exit on Oil Well Road.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in which McNickles was the passenger. They spotted an aluminum foil that was shaped like a pipe between McNickles’ legs and several unopened beef jerky packets matching the description of the ones that were stolen. The aluminum foil was burnt as if it was used as drug paraphernalia.
A search of the vehicle turned up a black pouch containing glass pipes and several small plastic bags. One of the bags contained heroin.
Deputies took McNickles into custody.
The beef jerky was released back to the store.
