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Couple arrested on a litany of Drug, DUI, and Child Abuse charges after traffic stop

couple arrested on a litany of drug dui and child abuse charges after traffic stop
GCSO

SAFFORD – A Safford couple was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on a number of drug, DUI, and child abuse charges after being pulled over for a traffic violation in the early morning hours of Aug. 10. 

William Chase Rogers-Prince, 30, of Safford, was officially charged Thursday, Aug. 19 with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and aggravated DUI. 

Rogers-Prince was initially arrested after he was pulled over at about 2:23 a.m. for failing to activate his turn signal until after he was already turning. Upon contact, the officer also located a female front-seat passenger, identified as Mikell Higgs, 27, of Safford, and her 3-year-old son in the back seat. When speaking to Rogers-Prince, the officer noted several clues of impairment from drug use.

After Rogers-Prince failed field sobriety tests, he was placed under arrest and was searched. The search yielded 42 blue “M30” counterfeit Oxy pills that contained fentanyl. A further search of the vehicle yielded a small amount of crystal methamphetamine, which the passenger advised was hers. A 9mm pistol was also located in Higgs’ purse along with two magazines. According to Higgs’ account of the night, she picked up Rogers-Prince at his house after going there to retrieve her mail. The couple then patronized a fast food restaurant and ate at Firth Park. Rogers-Prince starting driving when they left the park and was eventually pulled over.

During the traffic stop, the officer noted the child appeared to have a medical condition.

Later, when the child’s father arrived on the scene, the father advised the injury had occurred about a month prior when the child – while in the care of Higgs – was splashed with soup water by his sister who poured a cup of Ramen noodles on his head. The father said he had taken his son to three different medical appointments but that the child wasn’t initially taken for treatment until the following day after the soup incident when he picked him up from his mother’s place. 

Higgs was then transported to jail. On Aug. 19, she was officially charged with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and child abuse.

Authored by Jon Johnson via Gila Herald August 25th 2021

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