From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office:

At approximately 2:07 am on April 25, 2025, PCSO Deputies made a traffic stop on a vehicle for a window tint violation and failure to maintain lane. During the traffic stop, the driver, identified as Derick Kiner, gave consent to search his vehicle. The vehicle search revealed that Kiner was in possession of a large amount of U.S. currency that was bundled in a manner consistent with drug activity.

Detectives established probable cause through a year-long investigation to obtain a search warrant for Kiner’s residence. A search of his residence revealed Kiner to be in possession of approximately 5 ounces of cocaine, digital scales, a handgun, a rifle, ammunition, and more bundled cash totaling approximately $118,000. Kiner has a felony drug conviction and is believed to have gang affiliation.

Derick Kiner was booked into the Putnam County Jail and charged with Manufacture, Sell, Delivery of Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Kiner has a bond set at $500,000 and a court date of June 9, 2025. The PCSO was assisted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) during this investigation.

Sheriff Farris stated, “We will not tolerate any gang-related activity in our community. My Deputies and I are commited to using every tool at our disposal to hold these individuals accountable. The safety and wellbeing of Putnam County Citizens remains my top priority, and we will continue to work to keep our community safe and free from these bad actors.”