Drugs, weapons arrests made near Rainbow encampment

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[While patrolling in the area of Palestine Road at Land Springs Road over the weekend Saline County Sheriff's Deputies arrested two teenagers on drug charges and a former Harrisburg police officer on a weapon violation.

Deputy Steve Sloan stopped a vehicle that did not use a turn signal turning right onto Land Springs Road from Palestine Road and spoke to occupants Autumn Eve Oxford, 17, Golconda, Melissa Ranae Fletcher, 18, Golconda, and a 16-year-old male from Elizabethtown.

In speaking to the three Sloan noted a smell of burning cannabis, asked permission to search the vehicle and the driver gave permission, according to the sheriff's report.

Sloan found 38 grams of suspected cannabis, five suspected klonopin pills and three glass pipes.

One of the women told Sloan the three had received the suspected drugs in a trade with the Rainbow Family camped in the area.

Sloan arrested Oxford on a charge of possession of controlled substance and Fletcher on charges of possession of cannabis between 30 and 500 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both posted $500 cash bond and were released from the Saline County Detention Center.

Sloan transported the 16-year-old to the jail and released him to his mother.

At 7:27 p.m. Oct. 4 Sloan pulled over Michael Gene Gibbons, 46, 75 Wamble Road, Harrisburg, after observing the rear registration light was out in his vehicle, according to the sheriff's report.

Gibbons produced his wallet and showed Sloan a Harrisburg Police Department sergeant badge and Harrisburg Police identification card, the report indicates.

Sloan asked Gibbons if he was a current Harrisburg police officer and Gibbons said he is retired, according to the report.

Gibbons told Sloan he had a pistol in the truck and gave Sloan permission to reach behind the passenger seat and take it. Sloan took a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 special in a leather holster out of the truck, according to Chief Deputy Todd Fort.

Sloan learned Gibbons was wanted on a failure to appear on a DUI charge out of White County and charged him with failure to appear and unlawful use of a weapon, due to the weapon being loaded and not in a proper case.

Gibbons posted $600 and was released from the Saline County Detention Center.