Spruce Pine Police Department Lieutenant Kelly Johnson (left) and officer Matt Custode pose for a photo outside of the department alongside K-9 officer Tank. Johnson, Custode and Tank recently seized nearly 300 grams of controlled substances after a traffic stop in the Grassy Creek area. (Submitted photo)
SPRUCE PINE — Aided by its K-9 officer, officers from the Spruce Pine Police Department recently seized nearly 300 grams of controlled substances after a traffic stop.
On Thursday, June 10 at approximately 1:20 a.m., Lieutenant Kelly Johnson and officer Matt Custode administered a random traffic stop in the KFC/Taco Bell parking lot and Tank, the K-9 officer, assisted and allowed them to find and seize 284.6 grams of methamphetamine, 10.4 grams of cocaine, a firearm, several pills and nearly $3,500 in cash.
Gary Nicholas Bailey and Eva Michelle Bailey are charged with multiple crimes that include trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking opium/heroin, possession with intent to sell and distribute a schedule II controlled substance, simple possession of schedule II and III substances and the possession of a firearm by a felon.
Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin during the regular meeting of the Spruce Pine Town Council on Monday, June 14, praised the efforts of Johnson, Custode and Tank.
“Our goal is to get as much dope off the streets as we possibly could,” Summerlin said. “[Tank] is working hard. That dog will lay right where the dope is at every single time.”
Summerlin touts Tank as one of the most promising K-9s they have had on the force and added he is grateful for Johnson and Custode’s dedication to ridding the community of drugs.
“I’ve seen the work ethic in these guys,” he said.
The council also praised the department’s work but Summerlin said there is still plenty of work to do in the community.
“It’s really bad,” Summerlin said about drugs in the area. “There is no telling what we are missing so we have to be vigilant and work hard and right here are the two men that can do it.”