Drugs

Marijuana found in possession of intoxicated man (05/08/12)
Shelbyville police say they confiscated 5.90 grams of marijuana from an intoxicated man "stumbling" along Hobson Avenue early Saturday night. Bruce Allan Prince, 30, of Depot Street admitted possessing marijuana when asked by officer Darrell Birdsong if he was carrying illegal narcotics...

Drug dealer loses second appeal try (04/25/12)
A man serving a 22-year sentence for selling drugs has lost his second petition for relief on appeal. Charles E. Orange claimed that Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler erred by summarily dismissing his first petition without appointing an attorney or giving him an opportunity to amend his petition...

Unprescribed Soma results in arrest (04/25/12)
Charges were filed against a man for possession of Soma (a muscle relaxer) without a prescription after his arrest on a DUI charge early Tuesday. Derek Ray Brewer, 18, of Tanner Circle was stopped near the Blue Ribbon Parkway-Evans Street intersection shortly after midnight after he allegedly crossed the center line twice, officer Chris Vest's report said...

Investigators take aim at drug dealers (04/25/12)
Investigators aren't identifying the source of 15 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $18,000 yet -- saying arrests are anticipated -- but they have a message for drug dealers. "If you're dealing drugs in Bedford County we're gonna get you," Sheriff Randall Boyce said...

Prescription drug disposal event scheduled April 28 (04/11/12)
Bedford Against Drugs Community Coalition and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The event will take place Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the BADCC office, 539 Tate Ave. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked...

Xanax pills confiscated at Harris (04/11/12)
Nine Harris Middle School students face charges in connection with generic Xanax tablets being distributed Tuesday, investigators said. "One student brought generic Xanax and gave them out," Capt. Tony Barrett of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department said. "Four actually took them. Nine were in possession of them."...

Plant food takes down football star (04/04/12)
For troubled Donovan Maxwell, happy memories of playing college football at the former Lambuth University still shone through the jumbled thoughts in his mind as "plant food" had its devastating effects. Maxwell, 22, of Shelbyville, "visibly lit up when we talked about school" as he was being transported to Heritage Medical Center on Saturday morning, Shelbyville police officer Tory Moore said. ...

Low-speed pursuit results in probation (03/20/12)
A Shelbyville woman received three years probation for a chase that was neither high speed nor very long, with all other charges dismissed. Regina Michelle Johnson was originally charged in Feburary 2011 with evading arrest, possession of a schedule II drug and two counts of reckless endangerment. However, prosecutors admitted that the chase in question "wasn't high speed" and lasted less than a mile...

Letters to the Editor, March 11 (03/11/12)
What a great article. I would like to see this go (Associated Press), and a copy to every school in the nation, and a copy to go to every parent...

Herbal incense, 'bath salts' rip apart user's life (03/04/12)
"I'm not an addict," Brenda Fogus thought as she consumed herbal incense. "It's not narcotics." "I'm not an addict," Brenda told the staff at a Georgia treatment center, where she'd been taken after a binge on bath salts which led to a long drive to a city where she had no connections. "I'm clean. I'm not using narcotics."...

Marijuana found following traffic stop (02/28/12)
Marijuana was confiscated from a La Vergne man following a traffic stop Friday night, police said. Jesse Andrew Garrett, 21, said he had a bag of marijuana in his clothing as Sgt. Charles Merlo was arresting him. Officers found a partially smoked joint in the car's floorboard but no marijuana in Garrett's clothing...

Synthetic drugs' impact discussed (02/26/12)
Drug investigators and Shelbyville citizens expressed frustration -- and hope -- while discussing the wave of synthetic drugs which has struck Middle Tennessee within the past two years at a Thursday meeting. "It's amazing to me that they can track one cow with mad cow disease but can't track down the source of these drugs," Shelbyville mayor Wallace Cartwright said in a question-and-answer session following Deputy Steven Daugherty's presentation to the Bedford Against Drugs Community Coalition...

Crossing the line: Seminar tackles teen issues (02/23/12)
"If you feel physically unattractive, you don't like the person that you are, you don't feel loved ... cross the line," said Eric Johnson to a room full of middle school students last week. Dozens of bright, attractive students -- both boys and girls -- crossed the blue line marked on the floor in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church...

Moore commissioner bound to grand jury (02/22/12)
A Moore County commissioner accused of selling drugs near a Bedford County school has been bound over to the next session of the grand jury, also resigning his position Monday night. William Karl Pyrdom Sr., 44, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Feb. 10. His case will be presented to the Bedford County grand jury on March 19...

Freeman accepts 13-year plea bargain (02/15/12)
A man who tried to run over two Bedford County deputies last year agreed to a plea Monday resulting in a 13-year prison sentence. Jerry Stanton Freeman, 45, will serve five years each for two counts of aggravated assault, and a three-year term on drug charges, resulting in the 13 year sentence. Freeman will have to serve 30 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole...

Appeals court agrees with 17-year sentence (02/10/12)
Tennessee's appeals court says a local judge made no mistake in sentencing a Bedford County man to 17 years in prison for selling crack. Larry Thomas Johnson had appealed his guilty-pleaded convictions for the sale of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine and possession with the intent to sell...

Pyrdom drug case remains on hold (02/08/12)
It's not clear when a Moore County commissioner accused of selling drugs near a Bedford County school will have his case heard. William Karl Pyrdom Sr., 44, had been scheduled to make a fifth appearance in General Sessions Court on Jan. 31 for charges of sale of a schedule II drug...

Drugs among items taken in home burglaries (02/07/12)
Home burglaries kept Shelbyville police busy over the weekend. l Prescription drugs, jewelry and a pair of sunglasses were stolen from a South Brittain Street home between 9-10:30 p.m. Friday, police were told. A door was kicked and glass in a second door broken to gain entry...

Marijuana found in car after wreck (02/02/12)
Marijuana was discovered in a car following an accident last week on State Highway 82 west of Bell Buckle. Pratik Patel, 21, of North Point Circle, the driver, was charged with first offense DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a schedule VI drug for resale, State Trooper Chad McAnally said...

Thieves break into drug store, steal pills (01/10/12)
An undetermined number of pills were taken from a Shelbyville drug store around sunrise Sunday. The burglary alarm at McGee's Prescription Shop, Union Street, sounded at 6:08 a.m., Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said...

Drug fight tops DAs' concerns (12/28/11)
Tennessee's district attorneys say that synthetic and prescription drug abuse will be the biggest challenges they face going into the new year. District Attorney General Charles Crawford and 30 others recently met for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference to identify what they termed "serious areas of concern" which must be addressed at the state level in 2012...

Tracy-sponsored immigration, drug laws in effect Jan. 1 (12/23/11)
Two laws resulting from bills sponsored by State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) will take effect Jan. 1; one relates to verifying the immigration status of employees, while the other has to do with prescription drugs at pain clinics. "Both of these new laws will have a positive impact on Tennessee," said Tracy in a news release. "The new E-Verify law has been successful in other states to help ensure that those working in Tennessee are here legally...

Defendants' cases held until January (12/20/11)
A dozen defendants will have to wait until next month to learn if they were indicted by the Bedford County grand jury. Court officials stated that most of the defendants had only had their preliminary hearings before General Sessions Judge Charles Rich late last week and there was no time to properly draw up the indictments in time for Monday's meeting of the grand jury...

Robbery foiled by officers (12/14/11)
A man who thought he was luring an unsuspecting cell phone buyer into a robbery was surprised to be met by two detectives and a drug agent Monday. Christopher Alan Perry, 18, of Oakwood Place was taken into custody in a Madison Street convenience store by detectives Jason Kennedy of the Tullahoma Police Department and Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department. In Perry's hands was a bag containing an eReader and USB cord valued at $20, police said...

Court denies Parrish reduced prison time (12/13/11)
A Shelbyville man who fired shots at a home in 2009 after a drug deal went bad has been denied an appeal for a shorter prison term. Derrick Lamont Parrish, 34, formerly of Cedar River Road, is serving a 16 1/2-year sentence after entering a best-interest plea on a number of felony charges...

Court overturns pot conviction (12/07/11)
A criminal appeals court has overturned a conviction of a Bedford County man on a possession of marijuana charge, stating that "double jeopardy" bars two charges resulting out of a single offense. In July 2010, Marease Antonio Crawford was indicted by the county's grand jury for sale of a schedule VI drug (two counts), delivery of schedule VI (two counts), possession of schedule VI for resale, delivery of schedule VI and driving on a suspended license. ...

Moore commissioner's drug case continued (12/01/11)
A Moore County commissioner who is accused of selling drugs near a school has had his case continued until next year. William Karl Pyrdom Sr., 44, had a continuance set for Jan. 31 after making his fourth appearance in General Sessions Court on Tuesday. He is charged with sale of a schedule II drug and is free on $10,000 bond...

Synthetic marijuana discovered in vehicle (11/03/11)
A package of Kush, described by experts as a "synthetic marijuana," was found in a vehicle following a traffic stop Tuesday night, Shelbyville police said. Travis Lamar Briggs, 32, Warners Bridge Road, told officers several people had been driving his truck and the substance belonged to them. He was charged with possession of a schedule VI drug and posted $1,000 bond...

Attempt to kill officers results in indictments (10/18/11)
A man accused of trying to run over two officers during an undercover drug buy was indicted on a number Monday of charges, including two counts of attempted first degree murder. Jerry Stanton Freeman, 45, of Warren Hollow Road, was indicted on two counts of attempted first degree murder of an officer, two counts of possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of a schedule II drug, resisting arrest and evading arrest...

Video assists marijuana arrest (10/11/11)
Video proved a Shelbyville officer's suspicion that a small bag of marijuana was tossed by a suspect, police said. The bag was within a larger bag of items officer Jose Garza said was tossed by Tyler Clay Stewart, 18, Hickory Drive, as he got out of a truck stopped by police on Madison Street...

Freeman bound to grand jury (10/07/11)
A detective testified that a Moore County man came only inches from striking him with a truck following an undercover drug buy in April. Jerry Stanton Freeman, 45, of Warren Hollow Road, was bound over to the next session of the Bedford County grand jury, set for Oct. 17, on charges of two counts of attempted first degree murder of an officer, two counts of possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of a schedule II drug, resisting arrest and evading arrest...

Synthetic drugs not seen locally (09/22/11)
Synthetic drugs have been confiscated from convenience stores in the Murfreesboro, Nashville and Coffee County areas within the past few weeks, but a Shelbyville detective said none were found locally in seven stores checked last Wednesday. "We sent an undercover officer into the stores and tried to buy marijuana," Sgt. Brian Crews said. "The officer had been provided with money...

Convicted drug dealer gets no relief (08/23/11)
A man who received a 21-year sentence in a drug case five years ago has lost his second criminal court appeal. Emmett Russell McGee, Jr. claimed that he was given improper advice concerning possible sentences he could have received if he went to trial and that his consecutive terms were illegal...

Youths become ill from substance near school (08/23/11)
A teen described by police as a "juvenile male" faces drug charges after two youths at Central High School became ill from a substance they say they were given during Friday night's football game. The substance, thought to be "7H" and described by police as "fake marijuana," left the youths ill. Officers found them lying on a sidewalk behind the school, one sick at his stomach and the other claiming his nose was bleeding...

Judge recuses himself from drug sale case (08/17/11)
A local judge has recused himself from a drug case involving a Moore County commissioner, and a different district attorney's office has been asked to take up the matter. William Karl Pyrdom Sr., 44, has his third appearance in General Sessions Court set for Nov. 29. However, General Sessions Court Judge Charles Rich has recused himself due to one of Pyrdom's family members being an officer of the court...

Two charged after try to burglarize truck (08/11/11)
Two men, one who said he had been smoking incense, were arrested early Wednesday following an alleged attempt to take items from a truck at a Colonial Avenue home. Richard Andrew Varner, whose name and address were not immediately available, was held by three residents of the home until officers arrived. Varner, who police said appeared "very high," told officers he had been smoking 7H, which is a form of herbal incense. He was charged with auto burglary...

State funds boost anti-binge drinking effort (06/07/11)
The Bedford County Anti-Drug Coalition has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. The grant was made in response to the anti-drug coaltion's submission of a grant proposal "to reduce binge drinking among 14-25 year olds," according to a letter confirming the grant to Luci Taylor, Bedford County project coordinator...

Officer present at 'crack house' fired by police (05/27/11)
A Shelbyville police officer Metro investigators said was at the home of an alleged drug dealer in Nashville has been dismissed from the force. Waymond Boyd is "no longer a member of our department," Assistant Chief Mike Rogers said. Boyd, a member of the force since March 2006, has not been charged with a crime or arrested, Rogers emphasized. He was suspended April 28...

Court date set for Moore commissioner (05/27/11)
An August court date has been set for a Moore County commissioner arrested last month for allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover officer. William Karl Pyrdom Sr., 44, has his second appearance in General Sessions Court set for Aug. 16, when he will appear before Judge Charles Rich...

Suspects turn over pot after stop (05/25/11)
Two women in a car stopped for speeding on Narrows Road were charged with possession of marijuana Monday, Shelbyville police said. The car's driver, Brandee Johnette Willis, 18, of Mohican Place told police four partially-smoked marijuana cigarettes were in an ashtray and Crystal Ranisha Buckingham, 22, of Sanders Street removed several partially-smoked marijuana cigarettes and bags of loose marijuana from her clothing, officer David Curley's report said...

Couple admits cooking meth near 6 children (05/22/11)
A local couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to child endangerment charges stemming from a case where officers found six kids living in a home with a meth lab. Sandra Jean and David Gordon Mortimer, both 34, pleaded to five counts of child endangerment and will serve 60 days, plus pay court costs within 10 months. The pair were sentenced to 11 months, 29 days at 75 percent for each count, but the terms were all suspended except for the 60 days...

Court struggle leaves deputy, convict hurt (05/17/11)
A women being taken into custody and a member of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department were both injured in Circuit Court Monday morning following a violent struggle. Capt. Becky Hord and Ida Mae Draper, 21, suffered cuts when they fell through a glass door that leads to an area where prisoners are kept while they await court appearances at Bedford County Courthouse...

Drug suspect threw 'roaches' from home (05/06/11)
A Shelbyville man faces drug charges after his arrest Wednesday at a Railroad Avenue home. Paul Douglas Smith, 41, was seen throwing smoked marijuana "roaches" out of a residence, a witness told police. Officers said they saw a bag of marijuana and a roach clip through a window, then found another bag of marijuana and a package of rolling papers in a bedroom along with five Lortabs...

Narrow escape (04/22/11)
A Moore County man has been charged with trying to kill two law enforcement officers during an undercover drug buy. Jerry Stanton Freeman, 45, of Warren Hollow Road was charged Wednesday night with two counts of attempted first degree murder of an officer, two counts of possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of a schedule II drug, resisting arrest and evading arrest...

Drug dealer's sentence upheld (04/14/11)
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld a nine-year sentence given to a young Shelbyville woman for drug charges last year. Kasey N. Maddox had appealed her sentence given by Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler following a guilty plea of selling of .5 grams or more of cocaine, a Class B felony...

Police weren't messing around with drug suspect (03/29/11)
A man who told police he was "just messing" with a cab driver he allegedly threatened was arrested on a drug charge Sunday. Dewain Earl Bailey, 28, Eagle Boulevard, had a marijuana cigarette containing 0.28 grams of marijuana behind his ear when arrested at an Eagle Boulevard convenience store by Shelbyville officer Jon Cooke...

Child in DCS custody after parents arrested (03/01/11)
A 1-year-old child was turned over to the Department of Children's Services after her parents -- both drunk and one passed out -- were arrested Friday outside Walmart, police said. Gary Andrew Hackler and Sarah Catherine Hackler, both 30, of Rockwood were charged with possession of a schedule II drug after officers responded to a report of a shoplifter...

CORRECTED: Preacher faces pot charge (01/18/11)
A Shelbyville preacher was one of several people recently arrested on drug charges as a result of investigations by the county's crime suppression unit. Dywand Carlos Pettway, 42, of Bird Street, is due in Bedford County General Sessions Court on Jan. 26 on the charge of possession of schedule VI for resale...

Suspect denies selling pills at liquor store (12/03/10)
A woman accused of selling pills in front of a Shelbyville liquor store denied doing so before her arrest Wednesday night. Officers were told of a "suspicious person" outside the North Main Street store and found Julia Faye Bogle, 49, of Petersburg, who said she was waiting for a ride...

Crime unit makes drug busts (12/01/10)
The county's new crime suppression unit has been keeping busy this month, making several arrests including one where three pounds of marijuana was seized and another where children were brought to a drug deal. Detective Sgt. David Sakich and Detective Kevin Holton received information on Nov. ...

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