ANVIL Officer Already
Making An Impact

January 8, 2009
Two days in his new position and ANVIL officer Sgt Scotty Watson has already made a significant drug arrest.

Watson was headed South on Main Street Wednesday afternoon when he met a car driven by Robert Louis (Bob) King II.  Watson, who  knew that Arab Police had outstanding warrants on King and that he was driving on a revoked drivers license, turned around and followed the King vehicle as it pulled into the Redstone Federal Credit Union parking lot.  As King and a female companion were exiting the vehicle, Watson pulled up and ordered them to remain in the vehicle.  After arresting King on the outstanding warrants, a search of his vehicle turned up 1.0 gram of liquid methamphetamine in a loaded syringe, .7 gram of powder methamphetamine in a small clear baggy, and 4.0 grams of marijuana and multiple items of paraphernalia.   The loaded syringe was prepared for immediate use.  King, age 45, of 1000 County Road 53 in Fort Payne, AL was described by Watson as "One of the biggest drug problems in our area."

Sgt. Watson, who has worked as a patrol officer for the Arab Police  Department since 2001, began his new duties as the ANVIL (Alcohol, Narcotics, Vice, Intelligence, and Laundering) officer on Tuesday.  Prior to working as an Arab patrol officer he worked as a drug officer with the Cullman County Sheriff's Office.  Watson is actually sworn as a Special Federal Officer of the FBI.

As an officer in the Safe Streets Program, Watson's primary duties will be working crimes associated with alcohol, drugs, vice and money laundering and the special intelligence needed to apprehend criminals involved in these crimes.

The ANVIL position is funded by a federal grant from the Federal Safe Streets Initiative.  The grant pays the officers overtime, furnishes a vehicle and fuel expense, phone / radio, other expenses.  The City of Arab is required to fund salary and benefits.