By Jim Clark

Plainclothes on-duty officers spotted a man who was known to have active warrants out for his arrest in Foss Park last Saturday morning.

As they approached the man, Joseph Flynn, 21, and his female companion, Ella Mataev, 24, officers reportedly observed Flynn remove a cigarette package from his pocket and toss it behind him.

The cigarette pack was retrieved and a subsequent search yielded eight small plastic bags containing a brownish powder that officers believed was heroin. A small quantity of what was thought to be marijuana was also found in the cigarette pack.

As Flynn was detained and searched, a folding pocketknife was found on his person and confiscated.

When asked if she was carrying any illegal drugs, Mataev reportedly told officers that she was not. A search of her purse turned up a white tablet that officers identified as Suboxone. When asked if she had a prescription for this drug, Mataev reportedly said that she did but that the prescription was not in her possession at that moment.

Both individuals were subsequently placed under arrest.

Flynn was charged with drug possession to distribute, violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon, and drug violation near a school or park. He was additionally booked on warrant charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license and speeding.

Mataev was charged with being present where heroin is kept and possession of a class B drug.