From WRIL The Big One
According to citations, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, while on patrol on North Broad Street, Tazewell Officer Hunter Holt saw a man identified as Robert Owen of Tazewell, driving a Toyota Highlander. Officer Holt knew Owen had a DUI revoked driver’s license, so he made a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Upon contact with Owen and asked if he had his license back yet and he advised no, which was confirmed through dispatch. The check also showed that Owen was wanted out of Kentucky by the Office of Probation and Parole for Trafficking Methamphetamine. He was then asked to exit the vehicle and as he stepped out Officer Holt could detect a strong odor of Marijuana omitting from inside the vehicle.
There was also a male passenger inside of the vehicle identified as Leonard K. Rich of Middlesboro. His information was run through NCIC showing he too was wanted out of the State of Kentucky by the Office of Probation and Parole for Trafficking Methamphetamine. Rich was then taken into custody.
It was learned that Owen had contacted the registered owner of the Highlander to come retrieve it and consent was given to search the vehicle based on the smell of Marijuana.
The search yielded a green bag inside the vehicle and Owen was asked if it was his and he stated it was. A search of the bag was conducted, and Officer Holt located approximately 575 grams of a white crystal-like substance which is believed to be Methamphetamine. Also found were two mason jars containing approximately 35 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be Marijuana, a schedule 6 controlled substance.
Another mason jar that contained 40 grams of white and brown psychedelic mushrooms, which are a schedule 1 narcotic, was located along with Gabapentin pills, Clonazepam, a small scale, 3 hypodermic needles, and a white plastic tube containing 11 bullets of 0.380 ACP ammunition. Officer Holt conducted a criminal history of Mr. Owen and discovered that he had been convicted of several felony charges.
A search of Owen resulted in finding $1,770 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of illicit narcotics. The Highlander Owen was operating was also seized due to a large number of illegal narcotics being trafficked inside of it.
Both Owen and Rich were then transported to the Claiborne County Jail without further incident.
Robert Owen was charged with:
POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE
SELLING MARIJUANA
SELLING HALLUCINOGEN
POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE IV DRUGS
POSSESSION LEGEND DRUGS/POSSES W/OUT PRESCRIPTION
POSSESSION DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
POSSESSION WEAPON - CONVICTED FELON
DRIVING ON REVOKED DRIVER LICENSE
He was also served the Probation warrant.
Leonard K. Rich was also served his outstanding Probation warrant and has been extradited back to Kentucky.