HOXIE, Ark. – Authorities are releasing more information about the death of a man on Thursday, May 9.
Patrick Malden has been identified as the man who passed away early in the morning on May 9 in Hoxie, according to Hoxie police. Presumptive testing showed that at the time of death, Malden was positive for amphetamines and methamphetamine.
The official cause of death is still undetermined at this time. Further testing will completed by the crime lab at a later date, police said.
At 1:59 AM on May 9, Lawrence County Dispatch received a 911 call from an address off Edgar St. in regards to a male subject that had collapsed, began foaming out of the mouth and was unresponsive. Dispatch then notified police and EMS, who arrived on scene shortly after to find the man lying in the living room floor unresponsive. Life saving measures were performed. He was then loaded in the ambulance and transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge where he was then pronounced dead.
During an investigation into a man’s death, Hoxie officers, in collaboration with Agents from Arkansas Probation and Parole, conducted a compliance check at a residence located off Texas Street. This check was prompted by information revealing that one of the occupants of the home was on supervised probation (SIS).
The compliance check resulted in the discovery of various illicit substances and paraphernalia, a release from the department said. Among the findings were roughly 12 grams of suspected methamphetamine, individually bagged for distribution, along with 1.2 grams of marijuana. Additionally, officers seized two marijuana pipes, three methamphetamine pipes, a straw, two pieces of glass, and a spoon, all showing residue. A pill bottle containing 37 Xanax pills, a set of digital scales, and $248 in cash were also confiscated.
As a result of the findings, David Gaither and Lesia Barton were taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses, including:
- Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver (greater than 10 grams)
- Possession of Marijuana (less than 4 ounces)
- Possession of Schedule 4 Substances
- Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Following the arrests, in separate post Miranda interviews, Gaither and Barton revealed that Malden had been at their residence less than an hour before his passing, police said. Both Gaither and Barton claimed that the man ingested methamphetamine, which he had brought with him in a pipe. When questioned about the amount, both parties stated that the man had “at least an ounce” on his person.
Furthermore, Gaither and Barton mentioned that the deceased individual had disclosed his involvement in a traffic stop with Hoxie officers on Tuesday evening. Allegedly, he claimed to have swallowed two “eight balls” of meth prior to being stopped by law enforcement.
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