Stolen Vehicle Leads To Drug Arrest

Friday night Newport police arrested a man in a stolen vehicle with lots of cash. The 2003 Dodge Ram pickup was seen leaving the Motel 6 turning onto Heritage Blvd with no license plate light. That vehicle then turned onto Morrell Springs road where officer Paul Weber made a traffic strop. the driver was 34 year old Brandon Lee James…who had a suspended license and a warrant for probation violation in Cocke County. The truck which had Kentucky plates on it came back as stolen from Greene County. 77 grams of methamphetamine was found in a cubby hole in the dash and a loaded .380 caliber handgun was found tucked in the backseat. Also, over $3400 in cash was found…believed to be money from the sale of narcotics. James was taken into custody charged with felony theft, manufacture sale or delivery of schedule II, plus possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.