Deputies with the Fentress County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop Sunday night on 31-year-old Josh Burchfield of Jamestown for driving on a suspended license. While officers were attempting to pull the vehicle over Deputy Micah Norman noticed the passenger of the vehicle toss something out of the window onto the roadway. The automobile then drove around 50 yards farther and stopped.

Deputy Norman and Deputy Jerry Delk then had both the driver and the passengers, identified as 43-year-old Edward Hawkins of Oneida and 23-year-old Taylor Smith of Crossville, step out of the car. While the front passenger was stepping out of the vehicle officers noticed what appeared to be meth in small bags on the passenger side floorboard. Deputy Webb and Deputy Norman then returned to the roadway where they located a large bag of methamphetamine. The bag was busted and laying on the roadway, but officers recovered as much as possible from the scene.

Also reportedly seized in the traffic stop was 133 grams of meth along with 1.75 grams marijuana, 15 Suboxone strips, around $2,500 in cash and multiple types of drug paraphernalia. All three suspects were placed under arrest and transported to the Fentress County Justice Center and are being held on $50,000 bonds.

Fentress County Sheriff Michael Reagon wants to urge the public if they have any information on the sale of illegal drugs in Fentress County to please contact the sheriff’s Office.

The charges on the three include:

Josh Burchfield – Possession of meth over 4.5 ounces with intent, violation of a drug free school zone, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and driving on suspended license.

Edward Hawkins – Possession of meth over 4.5 ounces with intent, violation of a drug free school zone, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.

Taylor Smith – Possession of meth over 4.5 ounces with intent, violation of a drug free school zone, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, simple possession of schedule 6 controlled substance, simple possession of schedule 3 controlled substance, and introduction of contraband into a penal institution.