LaFAYETTE — When a law enforcement officer comes to your house and asks you a question, it’s best to give an honest answer and face the consequences rather than try to mislead and face worse consequences. That happened early this morning in Lanett.

At approximately 1:45 a.m., deputies from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office went to a residence on 54th Avenue SW looking for a man named Richard Smith, who was wanted on a warrant for violating parole.

A man answered the door, and when told by deputies a person named Richard Smith was who they were looking for, he attempted to mislead them by telling them that he was Richard’s brother and that Richard wasn’t there.

Since they had a warrant for Richard Smith and the person at the door led them to believe that he’d been staying there, they were legally allowed to enter the premises. When they did, they saw drug paraphernalia, a suspected Ecstasy pill and suspected methamphetamine lying in plain view inside the residence.

The deputies were able to identify the person they were speaking to as Richard Smith, the individual they wanted for a probation violation. He was placed under arrest on that warrant and was additionally charged with trafficking methamphetamines, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing justice by using false identity.

Had Smith told the law enforcement officers he was the man they were looking for when he answered the door and went with them willingly, he might not be facing those other charges.

Chief Angie Spates and Lanett officers assisted in the case.

In another incident involving the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Robert Sheehan, 28, of Valley was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a manslaughter charge.

There were 144 inmates in the county jail this morning.

Valley reports

VALLEY — Two people were arrested in Valley on Thursday. According to police department reports,

Brittany Nicole Norris, 29, of Valley has been charged with bail jumping, second degree, and

Charles Justus Schroeder, 24, of Valley has been charged with theft of property, fourth degree.

West Point reports

WEST POINT — West Point police officers are investigating two incidents that were reported on Thursday. According to reports, battery was reported on Martin Luther King Drive and forgery on Francolyn Terrace.

Lanett reports

LANETT — Lanett officers are investigating two incidents that were reported on Thursday. An incident of harassing communications was reported on the 1000 block of South 1st Avenue and theft of property, fourth degree, on the 500 block of Cherry Drive.