Police arrest store managers over drug paraphernalia

UNION CITY, Tenn. — Police make discoveries at four convenience stores in Union City. Managers at Uptown Store, Tobacco Barn, Roll Your Own Tobacco and Phillips 66 stores all are facing charges including possession of drug paraphernalia.

When Uptown Store reopened its doors last week, police say they were checking to see if the store was selling alcohol. While inside the location, they found other items.

“Over on the counter, we began to see these glass pipes, which we know are used for smoking crack cocaine, and bongs for smoking marijuana — different things we know are used in the community for that purpose,” Union City Police Chief Perry Barfield said.

Barfield said he and two investigators also found synthetic urine detox, grinders with marijuana leaves, and baggies.

“The combination of all those things, the way they were displayed, classifies it as drug paraphernalia,” Barfield said.

Police say the manager at Uptown Store told them other convenience stores were selling the same type of items. “We went to about six other locations, ended up with about four total locations that were selling those items,” Barfield said.

Charges at Uptown Store include possession of schedule II and drug paraphernalia. Owners at the other stores were also charged with possession of a device used for gambling in addition to drug paraphernalia charges.

Police say they’ll be following up with these locations to make sure the items don’t reappear on store shelves.