No Seat Belts Leads To Drug Arrest

Not wearing a seat belt led to two people being arrested on drug charges. A Cocke County Sheriff’s deputy noticed a man driving a jeep near the 440 Truck Stop not wearing a seat belt. The jeep also had a burned out tail light. A traffic stop was made in the parking lot of the Trinity Church on Hartford Road. Inside the jeep were the driver, 41 year old Tracy Jones of Newport, and his passenger, 28 year old Josia Messer of Cosby. Both were acting nervous, which raised suspicions of law enforcement. Messer was observed with several sores on both her legs, arms and facial area common with the use of illegal narcotics.

Jones gave permission for deputies to search the vehicle and that is when deputies found approximately 1.0 gram of a substance suspected to be Methamphetamine near the front passenger seat area along with approximately 5.0 grams of a substance suspected to be Heroin/Fentanyl in the back seat area. A set of digital scales used in the sale of illegal narcotics was found as well. In addition, Jones was found to have $851 in cash in his pocket, money believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales.

Both Jones and Messer were arrested and charged with possession of illegal narcotics.