
By: Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A former Cushing man and his companion, who live together in Lincoln, Arkansas, have been jailed on $100,000 bail each on charges of trafficking methamphetamine with a street value of $6,500, according to affidavits by Stillwater police.
Daniel Joseph Ducic II, 39, and Cynthia Elain Switzer, 48, who has also used the surname of Buck, were scheduled to appear in court today on their drug trafficking charges punishable by as much as a life prison term and a $100,000 fine on conviction.
The pair were arrested at a building supply parking lot on E. 6th Street in Stillwater on Jan. 22 at 10:51 pm — about nine minutes after two police detectives observed them in a car with an Arkansas license tag in a convenience store parking lot at 6th and Jardot, court records show.
“After an extended period of time, Detective Moore and I watched as the Kia Sorento pulled onto Sixth Street as it proceeded west,” Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson wrote in an affidavit.
During a traffic stop on the car driven by Ducic, “I immediately noticed Cynthia’s hands trembling uncontrollably,” Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“Cynthia told me she traveled with her boyfriend, later identified as Daniel Ducic, from the Fayetteville, Arkansas area to Stillwater. Cynthia stated they were driving to Cushing, Oklahoma, to visit Daniel’s family. Cynthia was seen traveling west on 6th Street away from the Cushing, Oklahoma area,” the detective wrote in his affidavit.
“I asked Cynthia if she had anything illegal on her person. Cynthia stated she had marijuana in her pocket. Cynthia did not have a valid Oklahoma marijuana card. As I was speaking to Cynthia, Detective Moore placed Daniel Ducic under arrest for driving under suspension. During a search of Daniel’s person incident to arrest, four ounces of methamphetamine were located on his person,” Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
During a search of their car, a purse on the passenger’s floorboard had a sunglasses case containing a methamphetamine pipe, several 2×2 baggies and a large amount of methamphetamine, the affidavit alleged.
“A zip top bag containing white sugar tablets was also located in the sunglasses case,” which is combined with the drug as cut to add more weight to maximize profit, the affidavit alleged.
“Cut is only used by drug dealers because it dilutes the potency of the drug,” the affidavit alleged.
“Detective Moore and I found methamphetamine hidden in a stuffed animal in the back seat as well as in a glove. Each individual baggy was pre-weighed into one ounce baggies,” the affidavit alleged.
“A total of 7.5 ounces or 215 grams of methamphetamine was seized with an approximate street value of $6,500,” the affidavit alleged.
“Cynthia told me she sold methamphetamine in Arkansas to make extra money. Cynthia stated the items found in the purse were hers. Cynthia told me the Kia Sorento she was traveling in was hers,” Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
Stillwater Police Detective Brett Moore alleged in his affidavit, “I asked Daniel if he had any weapon on his person, to which he stated he had a knife in his pocket. I observed a large bulge inside the left side of Daniel’s jacket. As I patted Daniel for weapons, a single cloth glove fell from the left side of his jacket where I observed the bulge.
“I picked up the glove which contained four prepacked plastic bags of methamphetamine. I placed Daniel in handcuffs without incident and advised him he was under arrest,” Detective Moore alleged in his affidavit.
“At the jail, Detective Carson and I interviewed Daniel in the recorded interview room. Daniel quickly stated the methamphetamine belonged to him and he was trying to make extra money. Daniel then requested an attorney and no further questions were asked,” Detective Moore alleged in his affidavit.
“114.2 grams of methamphetamine was removed from four pre-packaged zip top plastic baggies inside the glove which fell from Daniel’s person. 57.3 grams of methamphetamine was removed from two zip top plastic baggies inside the stuffed animal. 43.6 grams of methamphetamine was removed from two zip top plastic baggies inside the glasses case.
“The total weight of methamphetamine, including the packaging material, was 215.1 grams. This carries an approximate street value of $6,500,” the affidavit alleged.
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