TRAFFIC STOP FOR EXPIRED TAG TURNS INTO DRUG BUST
On April 15, 2025, Crossville Police Officers Jacob Zimmerman and Steven McNeal initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired tag. During the stop, Officer Zimmerman observed the rear passenger door opening and closing briefly. He found a dry grey drawstring bag in the area, which contained a white crystalline substance (0.71 grams), a white powdery substance (1.09 grams), a scale, a spoon with residue, and plastic baggies.
The bag was dry, despite recent rain, suggesting it had been recently discarded.
The vehicle’s occupants, a driver and two passengers, included Bret Kearley in the rear passenger seat. The driver and front passenger told the officer the bag belonged to Kearley, who admitted to opening the door but denied throwing anything out.
Kearley was arrested and transported to intake.
Officer Zimmerman obtained and served warrants on Kearley for manufacture, delivery, and sale of a controlled substance, manufacture, delivery, and sale of methamphetamine, and tampering with evidence, along with a search warrant for Kearley’s cellphone.
The substances, spoon, scale, baggies, and cellphone were placed into evidence at the Crossville Police Department.
