Tatum police, firefighters responding to fire find ‘very large amount’ of narcotics, marijuana

TATUM, Texas (KLTV) – Ten Sept. 29, Tatum Police Department and Tatum Fire Department responded to a residential fire, and ended up arresting the homeowner.

Police say that Alexander River Clark was arrested and booked into the Rusk County Jail on drug charges resulting from the fire investigation.

Police say they arrived to the address at around 5:30 pm, and found a home on fire. They noticed that the fire was progressing toward a travel trailer parked directly beside the home. The officers and volunteer firefighters got it extinguished and were able to save the trailer.

According to Tatum police, they looked inside to make sure the travel trailer was not on fire, and found “a very large amount of illegal narcotics, a very large amount of US. “postal boxes, and USPS packaging boxes, a large amount of THC wax, packaged mushrooms, a large amount of illegal vapes, and several thousand dollars in bundles.”

Police have requested a search warrant for Clark’s vehicle and phone, as well, they report.

Police say that the homeowner, Clark, then drove up. After a short conversation and investigation, he was arrested and booked into the Rusk County Jail.

Alexander River Clark was arrested after Tatum officers say they found illegal drugs, cash, and mailers in his travel trailer during a fire response.(Tatum Police Department)