Report: Heroin sold, two arrests made near Claxton Elementary

Note: This story was last updated at 10:39 a.m. Feb. 5

Using a confidential source, authorities were able to buy heroin three times from a Powell home, and when they served a search warrant Thursday morning, they found about one ounce of the powerful drug inside the house, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident reports said.

The home is on Coconut Lane, about 1,000 feet from Claxton Elementary School.

The reports said the Sheriff’s Department, including Investigator Ryan T. Williams, were able to use the confidential source to make three separate purchases of heroin last week from Joe Fentress Butler, 28, of 156 Coconut Lane. Two of the purchases were for $25 worth of heroin and one was for $100, the reports said.

The confidential source was given a digital recorder to record the conversation with Butler, and investigators recorded the serial numbers on the money before giving it to the confidential source, the reports said. The source allegedly bought the drug after a short conversation with Butler and then turned it over to investigators. The drug field tested positive for heroin, the reports said.

Authorities said an investigation found that Charles Randolph Johnson, 38, supplied the heroin to Butler for resale. Johnson, who also lives at the Coconut Lane home, had $1,959 in cash, and at least one U.S. bill used in each of the three previous drug buys, the reports said. The money was seized.

The Sheriff’s Department reports said the ounce of heroin found inside the home was packaged for resale in many plastic baggies. Authorities also allegedly found two ounces of marijuana inside the home. The total value of the drugs and equipment, including 200 plastic baggies and one digital scale, was estimated at $8,000.

Butler and Johnson both remained jailed Monday morning. Hearings have been set for 1 p.m. Feb. 13 in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

Charges include manufacturing, delivering, selling, and possessing controlled substances; violation of a drug-free school zone; and possession of drug paraphernalia, the reports said.

Coconut Lane is between Claxton Elementary School and Tennessee Valley Memorial Gardens, near the intersection of Edgemoor Road and Clinton Highway.

Officers from the Oak Ridge Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Department apparently helped with the investigation.

Note: This story was corrected to updated the court date.