By Ron Barry
Managing Editor
If a person wanted to run an illegal drugs and weapons operation out of Crockett County, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more ideal location than Park Lane on the outskirts of Friendship.
First, you have to really want to find it to even be able to find it. If you think the town of Friendship would be considered “out in the boonies,” then how about driving beyond Friendship out into the farmland for a few miles, making turns onto three separate country roads, and then moving down a poorly-paved lane that has only one house address on it before fizzling out into a field?
If you’re running the operation, you’d know this on the front end: If somebody is even coming down the road, they’re coming to see you – because there’s no other reason to be there. It should be quite an advantage for a lookout.
But still – even against these odds – agents of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force found an operation in the house on Park Lane and halted the activity by arresting the couple behind it.
After a weeks-long investigation into the Crockett County couple’s endeavors, agents of the Task Force arrested 32-year-old Thimothy Lewis and 26-year-old Lacey Johnson, who are currently being held in the County Jail awaiting arraignment.
WTDTF Director Johnie Carter announced that a warrant to search the premises was granted after agents had been observing the Friendship couple for several weeks. The search led to the seizure of multiple weapons and several pounds of drugs.
During the search, Task Force agents found eight loaded weapons, more than 17 pounds of marijuana, 3-1/2 grams of methamphetamine, seven suboxone strips, approximately 100 high THC content edibles, a large amount of paraphernalia used to package and sell the drugs, and drug proceeds of $2,365 in cash. Some of the edibles contained THC levels as high as 120 milligrams each. Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat those addicted to opioids.
Carter said Lewis and Johnson were arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell (10 pounds or more), possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine) with intent to sell, possession of another Schedule II drug (suboxone) with intent to sell, possession of a weapon during the commission of a dangerous felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnson was also wanted out of Trenton on a misdemeanor warrant for her arrest.
“This was a busy operation,” Carter said. “During the search warrant, customers were calling, texting, and driving up looking to buy drugs. These agents did a great job and I commend them on making this community safer for its residents.”
The WTDTF operates by joint agreement in the 28th , 29th, and 30th Judicial Districts and also includes members from the Gibson and Haywood County Sheriff’s Offices and Humboldt, Milan, and Brownsville Police Departments.
