Substantial Amount of Methamphetamine Seized During Traffic Stop in Newton

NEWTON, TX — A Friday night traffic stop in Newton led to the seizure of a substantial amount of suspected methamphetamine and the arrest of a local man, according to Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard.

On February 20, 2026, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Sergeant Chad Ainsworth conducted a traffic stop on Martin Luther King Street for a traffic violation. During the encounter, Sgt. Ainsworth detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Based on probable cause, a search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, approximately 24 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a handgun were located concealed inside an interior panel of the vehicle.

The driver was identified as Mark Daniel Swartout, who was taken into custody and transported to the Newton County Jail.

Swartout has been charged with:

• Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1 >4G <200G (First-Degree Felony)

• Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon (Class A Misdemeanor)

Sheriff Havard expressed appreciation to the Newton Police Department and Texas Game Wardens for their assistance during the stop.

He also reiterated that the Newton County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to aggressively combating illegal narcotics and continuing the fight against drugs in Newton County.