Acting on a tip about drug sales at a Yellow Cliff Creek Road home in Sparta, Cumberland County deputies encountered 49-year-old Mechelle Louise Pyles. Upon her initially answering the door, deputies smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the home. Deputies said Pyles stepped outside and slammed the door behind her. When deputies explained their reason for being there and asked if she had any illegal drugs inside the house, she said no.

Deputies said they smelled a strong odor of pot coming from the house and asked for permission to conduct a search. They said she quickly refused, whereupon they said they could go get a warrant. At this point, she reportedly tried to run back inside. Believing she was planning to destroy evidence, deputies pulled her back outside.

In subsequent questioning, deputies asked whether she had any marijuana in the home. She claimed to have less than an ounce. She agreed to allow officers in the home with her to retrieve the marijuana.

Once inside, she led them to the couch and handed them a plastic bag sitting on an end table.

Asked again for permission to search the house, Pyles then consented.

Deputies found three plastic bags of meth on the same end table, weighing approximately 8.8 grams.  Officers also found more marijuana, numerous pipes with burnt residue, grinders, scales, $559 in U.S. currency and multiple small empty plastic bags used for packaging drugs. Total weight of the marijuana recovered was approximately 32 grams.

Also found inside the end table was a black Taurus .380 pistol with five rounds.

After initially denying ownership, Pyles admitted the meth was hers. She said she buys a ball (3.5 grams) from a source in Sparta for $150.

According to the arrest report, when asked how much she sells, Pyles reluctantly admitted “just enough to keep the lights on.”

Pyles was charged with felony possession of meth for resale, possession of marijuana for resale and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony. She was placed under $125,000 bond and is due in court March 18.