On December 2, 2020 at approximately 11:47 AM, Deputy Layton Medlen was dispatched to 2416 East 23rd Street in reference to criminal trespassing.

Upon arrival he made contact with the owner of the residence at 2410 East 23rd Street. The owner stated that his neighbor called and told him that the door on his house at 2416 East 23rd Street was opened. The owner advised deputy Medlen that the house has not been lived in and there should not be anyone there. The owner stated that he drove by the residence and he observed that the door was shut. and wanted Deputy Medlen to check and make sure no one was inside the house.

As Deputy Medlen approached the residence he observed a male subject later identified as Clifford Witherspoon walk out of the front door of the residence. Witherspoon stated that he did not have anywhere to go and that he just came to the residence to take a nap. Witherspoon told Deputy Medlen that his phone was inside of the residence. Deputy Medlen followed Witherspoon inside the residence so that he could get his phone.

As Deputy Medlen entered the residence he observed a clear glass pipe commonly used for smoking methamphetamine, and several other items of drug paraphernalia in the residence. The owner and Deputy Medlen searched the rest of the residence and located a clear crystal like substance on a small white piece of paper suspected to be methamphetamine, a red and white straw that was cut into a point at the end commonly used for loading methamphetamine into methamphetamine pipes, and a red and black torch lighter on the book shelf where the clear glass pipe was located, a light brown wooden box containing marijuana and paraphernalia lying on the bed. a black zip up pouch containing two plastic straws and 4 glass tubes with caps on them

Witherspoon was transported to the Hempstead County Detention Center and charged with criminal trespass, felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputy Medlen also served failure to appear warrant Witherspoon and gave him a court date of January 25, 2021 at 0900 hours.

Witherspoon is being held pending a first court appearance.