Casper police arrested a man Wednesday after receiving a tip that he was using and selling methamphetamine from the basement of a home.

Marshall Louis Washington, 64, was booked into jail on a charge of felony meth possession as a third or subsequent offense. He will likely make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Charging papers say a Casper police officer and lieutenant went to a home on North Lincoln to follow up on reports of drug activity at the residence. Washington was reported to be using and selling meth from the basement of the home.

A man who said he lived in the house told police that he was the only person who was supposed to be there, but Washington had taken over the basement. The man was too afraid of Washington to kick him out.

Officers went into the basement and heard Washington speaking to another man in one of the bedrooms. As an officer approached the open doorway to the bedroom, he reportedly saw an uncapped hypodermic needle next to a spoon with suspected meth residue on a styrofoam box, which served as a table in the middle of the room.

The officer also saw Washington and the other man were sitting across the "table" from each other, and saw another hypodermic needle on the end table next to Washington.

Officers entered the room and spoke with the two men; they both denied ownership of the needles. Washington reportedly agreed that the needles were probably used to ingest meth, but said someone must have left them in the room.

Washington allegedly said he would not have been stupid enough to leave used meth needles out for police to plainly see. He said there were no other drugs or paraphernalia in the room.

Police observed multiple track marks down Washington's right arm.

Washington's acquaintance was searched and later released without incident.

A search of Washington's person allegedly turned up a clear plastic jeweler's baggie containing suspected meth. In the area where Washington had been sitting when officers arrived, police allegedly found a grey hygiene bag containing dozens of used meth needles, spoons, a meth pipe, straws and baggies containing meth residue.

Officers also allegedly found a black camera bag and blue pillow case, each of them reportedly containing dozens of meth needles, spoons, meth pipes, lighters and other paraphernalia.

Washington reportedly said the meth police allegedly found in his pocket was not his, and he must have put it there by mistake. He would not say where he got it.

Washington's criminal history reportedly contained a number of previous criminal convictions for drug possession. He was arrested on the felony charge of possession as a third of subsequent offense, and taken to jail.

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