Meth user sentenced after hanging up on 911 call
Published 8:30 pm Saturday, March 17, 2012
An Austin man who reportedly hung up on police dispatchers after calling the Law Enforcement Center while under the influence of drugs and alcohol was sentenced to probation Friday under a plea agreement.
Joshua Robert Quinlan, 24, will have one count of fifth-degree drug possession disappear from his record under a statutory stay of absolution, according to court administration. Akiemie Marie Sweet, 38, will be sentenced May 10 for charges relating to the same incident. She also faces a fifth-degree drug possession charge under a plea agreement.
Police Captain Dave McKichan said police received a call around 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2011, but the caller hung up. Officers tracked the call to the 1600 block of Second Ave. SE, where they found Quinlan and Sweet, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and hard drugs. There were also two young children in the home, McKichan said.
According to a court complaint, officers noticed that Quinlan was restless and had rapid, exaggerated gestures. Quinlan spoke with officers and reportedly admitted to doing meth. Police located dirty syringes in an outside garbage can, according to the complaint. The syringes tested positive for meth.
Police also noticed “track marks” on both suspects’ arms, the complaint states.
Sweet initially denied using meth, but later admitted Quinlan had injected her with the drug, which caused her pain and led to him calling the police.
According to the complaint, Quinlan allegedly became unruly as police arrested him. He reportedly attempted to kick out the back window of the squad car. The complaint states he then tried to escape the car by jumping out and ramming his head into an officer’s stomach.
The man was maced, at which point he allowed officers to arrest him.
— Amanda Lillie contributed to this report.