Published: January 06, 2009 11:01 am      

Dumped trash proves revealing

A few bags of illegally dumped trash at a rural Lindsay site proved to be very revealing as authorities found inside the name of the individual they believe was responsible for putting it there.

With the name of Lindsay resident James David Stubblefield, 40, found on various pieces of paper inside the bags officials have now filed a criminal charge against him.

On the final day of the 2008 year a misdemeanor count of dumping trash on public or private property was filed against Stubblefield in Garvin County District Court.

The formal allegation came after a few days earlier when county deputies were contacted about the trash being illegally dumped at a site southeast of Erin Springs, which is located just south of Lindsay.

A resident told investigating officers he's had numerous dealings in the past with people dumping trash on his land.

“He went on to say that he has cleaned up trash for quite some time,” Deputy Jim Mullett stated in a filed affidavit.

While speaking to the area man, Mullett reported observing the trash where it was dumped in a roadway leading to a pasture.

There he reported seeing eight to 10 large black bags filled with trash. Also there were several beer bottles and other miscellaneous items discarded on the ground, he reported.

Both the deputy and landowner then began going through the bags of trash.

Within moments they found several pieces of paper with one being a prescription tab with Stubblefield's name and rural Lindsay address attached, according to the affidavit. The prescription was reported to have been filled in early November.

“Due to the various amounts of pieces of paper that identified the name James David Stubblefield, I felt confident that the trash dump came from his residence,” Mullett reported.

The deputy also reported finding paper that included driver's license information for Stubblefield.

All the paper with Stubblefield's name was then collected and placed into evidence. Photos were also taken of the remaining trash before its disposal.