Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Bust
HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn.- Deputies with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department took thousands of dollars worth of narcotic and prescription drugs off the street after a traffic stop in Lexington, Wednesday. “These drugs now won’t make it into the hands of users so these are off the street and that’s our ultimate goal is to make sure these things don’t reach the hands of the people who misuse them,” said Henderson County Sheriff Brian Duke. “They effects people’s thinking ability, motor skills and some of those prescription drugs effect those skills even more than alcohol could.” Officers pulled over Casey Richardson, 24 who was riding along Highway 412 with couple John Roach, 48 and Samantha Roach, 23 Wednesday afternoon. During the traffic stop deputies told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News they smelled something suspicious and asked to search the suspect’s vehicle. Inside the car, deputies assisted by Lexington Police found several prescription drugs, hydrocodone pills, marijuana and synthetic marijuana. Deputies said prescription drug abuse and synthetic marijuana use on the streets are the two key substances being dealt across West Tennessee. “Traditionally, people look at DUI as an alcohol-related offense now a days that’s not always true it can be prescription medications as well and we see a lot of that now,” said Sheriff Duke. Lexington Police report 75 percent of all DUI arrests are people either high on prescription drugs, or using prescription drugs with alcohol. “It’s a very huge problem not only here in Henderson County but all counties,” said resident Margarita Wood. “I have to say our sheriff, Brian Duke to me has been number one against drugs with the people that he puts out here on the streets.” Recent reports show Tennessee ranked second in the nation for prescription drug abuse and top ten for other drug categories. Officials said out of the 6.5 million residents living in Tennessee, more than 5 million people were given a prescription for hydrocodone. Law enforcement officials said they are aggressively fighting to end the war on drugs and reported statewide DUI arrests subsequently increasing last year by more than 8 percent. “(It’s) real scary. I’m so afraid one of my children or someone I love or anybody will get hurt by someone under the influence on drugs,” said resident Nancy Gordon. The three suspects arrested during the traffic stop all face felony drug charges that include possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedules II, III and VI with intent to resell.
