WTDTF director comments on Bells bust, one suspect at large
SEE ALSO: Joint law enforcement efforts thwart prison smuggling attempt
CROCKETT COUNTY, Tenn. — Wednesday night a Bells patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle heading west bound on highway 412.
Director of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Johnie Carter, stated that upon the traffic stop, one person got out and ran away on foot, while the driver pulled off, but eventually came to a stop.
“There was still the driver still in the vehicle. The Bells police officer stayed with the vehicle, detained the driver, called for additional backup units to arrive. He also called us and asked for the drug task force’s assistance,” said Carter.
Branden Powell was taken into custody.
Carter stated that they came to help track the other suspect who ran away.
“During that tracking process, we discovered the backpack that he fled with. It had one pound of vacuum-sealed marijuana in the backpack,” said Carter.
But he stated that the car had even more.
“What was found in there was a drone, four mesh-like laundry bags, I guess you could call them. Several cell phones with charger cords, a Sony PsP game console, multiple fentanyl pills that were disguised like dirty 30’s,” said Carter.
Dirty 30’s are made to mimic a pharmaceutical grade 30-milligram oxycodone pill.
These pills are created using fentanyl.
Carter stated that the evidence concluded that the drone was equipped to drop the mesh laundry bags with marijuana into the Northwest Correctional Facility in Lake County.
He says, typically, you would see the light that is found on most drone devices, but the drone was tampered with.
“They had placed electrical tape over the lighting of the drone so it would not shine. You wouldn’t be able to see it,” said Carter.
Authorities are still searching for the other suspect who ran from the scene.
“We have one in custody at this time. The other one is still at large. We do anticipate being able to draw up warrants for that one that’s still at large,” said Carter.
Powell is currently being held at the Crockett County jail.
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