A man briefly detained in connection with the Nancy Guthrie investigation in February was arrested by Pima County Sheriff's Department deputies on unrelated charges, according to court records.
The 37-year-old man was arrested on Sept. 30 after probation officers and sheriff deputies found two firearms in a gun case and a “white plastic baggy with white powdery substance” that later tested positive for “crack cocaine,” court records stated.
Charging documents showed he was booked on one count of misconduct involving weapons and one count of possession of narcotics. He was placed on a $2,500 bond, according to Sheriff's Department inmate records.
The arrest comes months after little news or updates regarding Guthrie, who was abducted on Jan. 31.
Guthrie, an 84-year-old Tucson area resident and mother of NBC morning news program “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, made national headlines after she was abducted from her Catalina Foothills home on Jan. 31. Her case deployed scores of law enforcement officers, including the assistance of the FBI to the southern Arizona community.
Multiple detained but none arrested
The 37-year-old was detained on Feb. 13 when deputies and FBI agents converged at a nearby Culver’s parking lot.
Authorities also towed a gray Range Rover from the parking lot of the Culver’s.
He was described as a person of interest by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department but was later released. A spokesperson for the department at the time said he was “cooperative.”
A delivery man from Rio Rico, a small community about an hour south of Tucson, also was detained and released the same night. Armed with a search warrant, agents searched his home.
The man told journalists he didn’t know why he drew law enforcement interest, had not heard of the case and did not watch the “Today” show or know who Savannah Guthrie was.
Limited recent updates on Guthrie case
Nearly eight months since Guthrie was abducted from her home near Tucson, updates on her investigation have stalled.
Guthrie was reported missing Feb. 1 when a friend told family members she failed to show up to their house to watch a virtual church service. Authorities determined she was abducted.
A home security camera captured grainy black-and-white video that showed a man wearing a ski mask at Guthrie’s front door. He wore a jacket and a holster with what authorities said was a gun.
The 84-year-old’s case has been marked by chilling ransom notes, a tug-of-war between the FBI and the local sheriff and a media circus that upended Guthrie’s neighborhood and left her loved ones on edge.
In July, the Sheriff’s Department shared the initial ransom note that demanded payment. A second note claimed Guthrie had died.
More recently, the Sheriff’s Department determined a new possible ransom note that was received as a text message was not credible.
Investigators urge the public to remain vigilant, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated on Sept. 29 in a Facebook post, "as scammers may attempt to take advantage of this situation."
Nanos said at the time the Guthrie investigation remained active and ongoing.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man once detained in Guthrie investigation faces gun, drug charges
