Agents with the West Tennessee Drug Task Force and the Gibson County Sheriff’s SWAT team surrounded a Trenton home late last night that ended with Crockett County fugitive Gerald “Pete” Samples in custody, said Johnie Carter, director of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force.
West Tn. Drug Task Force Agents, Crockett County Deputies and the United States Marshal Service have been coordinating efforts for months to capture Samples and were just a step behind him each time. Late last night an Agent with the Task Force developed a solid lead which led them to 57 Davis Loop Road in Trenton, Tn. Having to act quickly, Agents requested the assistance of the Gibson County Sheriff’s SWAT team and surrounded the home. After approximately 10 minutes, Samples walked out of the residence with his hands in the air and was taken into custody without incident. The Crockett County Sheriff’s Department took custody of Samples and transported him back to their detention facility on new charges of aggravated escape and theft of property under $10k. Samples was in the Crockett County Jail awaiting trial on charges of assault, robbery, reckless endangerment and theft when he escaped on July 6 th , 2020.
“This is one example of the beauty of drug task forces,” Carter said. “The Task Force is an extension of our participating agencies and readily supplements their force when it comes to drugs and violent crimes. We are a state entity and are able to cross jurisdictional lines, we foster great working relationships with the community as well as local, state and federal agencies and are able to capitalize on that to accomplish the mission.”
