Two traffic stops lead to drug a

A texting while driving stop led to a possession of meth arrest Thursday on U.S. Highway 321.

Lenoir City Police Officer Riley Miller was involved in traffic enforcement near Interstate 75 in Lenoir City when he saw a silver Nissan SUV traveling south on U.S. 321. He noticed the driver holding a cellphone and looking down at it while the vehicle was in motion.

Christopher Mealer, 47, Lenoir City, told Miller that he was using the phone to message coworkers. Miller asked Mealer to step out of the vehicle and speak with Miller further about a citation.

As Mealer stepped out of the vehicle, Miller noticed a clear plastic bag with another yellow bag inside hanging out of Mealer’s left front pocket. When Miller asked about the bag, Mealer quickly shoved it deeper into his pocket.

Mealer surrendered the bag, which contained a clear, crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

After a search of the vehicle, Miller located a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana inside a jacket pocket. The jacket was in the passenger’s seat and readily accessible while driving.

Mealer admitted the substance was methamphetamine and said he had been using it for work.

Mealer was charged with manufacture, delivery, sale or possession of meth and simple possession/casual exchange and released on $16,000 bond.

Slow driving ends in drug charges

A vehicle going significantly under the posted speed limit turned into a marijuana possession arrest for a Philadelphia woman Sunday.

Lenoir City Police Officer Jesse C. Robinson was traveling north on U.S. 321 when he saw a silver Hyundai going 25 mph in a 40 mph zone.

When the driver of the vehicle stopped at a red light, Robinson noticed the driver side brake light was not in working order. When he initiated a traffic stop, the driver ignored many potential pull-off opportunities before stopping.

Robinson talked with the driver, who was identified as Heather Lynn Barr, 43, Philadelphia.

While at the vehicle, Robinson could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. Fellow Officer Tanner LaForce arrived and asked Barr if she had smoked any marijuana in the car recently, and she confessed she did “three or four hours ago.”

After a search, two marijuana roaches and one orange pill stamped with “N8,” which was believed to be suboxone, was found.

Barr was charged with financial responsibility law, lights required on motor vehicles, simple possession/casual exchange and released on $1,000 bond.

Jan. 15

• Stephen Browder Day, 23, Lenoir City, was charged with domestic assault and released on $2,000 bond.

Jan. 16

• Mark Dewayne Davis Sr., 49, homeless, was charged with establishing a residence where minors reside or are present and violation of the sex offender registry and held on $15,000 bond.

• Katy Mae Pfeffer, 36, Lenoir City, was charged with violation of probation and held on $2,000 bond.

Jan. 17

• Eduardo Reyes Cifuentes-Tello, 30, Lenoir City, was charged with two counts of weekender serving time and released without bond.

• Francisco Javier Ruiz, 31, Lenoir City, was charged with domestic assault and released on $1,000 bond.

Jan. 18

• Hector Amirk Ramirez, 25, Lenoir City, was charged with criminal impersonation and held without bond.

Jan. 19

• Allen Wayne Hale, 44, Lenoir City, was charged with assisting other agency and released without bond.

• Eddy Guillermo Soto, 39, Lenoir City, was charged with theft of property and released on $1,000 bond.

• John Adam Tidwell, 31, Jefferson City, was charged with capias-general sessions and released on $1,000 bond.

Jan. 20

• Tonya Michelle Amburn, 46, Lenoir City, was charged with manufacturing, delivery, sale or possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia and released on $4,000 bond.

• Gregory David Linginfelter, 48, Lenoir City, was charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license and released on $1,000 bond.

• Rodney Aaron Steffa, 47, Sweetwater, was charged with failure to appear-general sessions and released on $1,000 bond.

• Michael Hunter Stokes, 26, Lenoir City, was charged with domestic assault and released on $1,500 bond.

• Melissa Rhea Bailies, 43, Knoxville, was charged with manufacturing, delivery, sale or possession of meth and held on $20,000 bond.

• Jody Ray Bailies, 45, Knoxville, was charged with driving on a revoked/ suspended license, driving under the influence and violation of implied consent and held on $5,000 bond.

• Heather Lynn Barr, 43, Philadelphia, was charged with financial responsibility law, lights required on motor vehicle and simple possession/casual exchange and released on $1,000 bond.

• Jeremy Lee Dills, 41, Powell, was charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license and released on $2,000 bond.

• Robert Eugene Perkins, 56, Lenoir City, was charged with three counts of assault, domestic assault, public intoxication and vandalism and held without bond.

Jan. 22

• Christopher William Mealer, 47, Lenoir City, was charged with manufacturing, delivery, sale or possession of meth and simple possession/casual exchange and released on $16,000 bond.