Charges are pending after a search warrant was served as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Vermont Avenue on Friday morning, Feb. 24, 2017, authorities said. The search warrant was served by members of the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT and patrol staff. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)
Two people were arrested on drug charges and two were arrested on outstanding warrants after a search of a Vermont Avenue home on Friday morning, authorities said.
The search of the home at 306 Vermont Avenue, across from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in central Oak Ridge, came after an investigation by the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force.
The Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT team entered the house early Friday morning with help from ORPD patrol officers.
Once the house was secure, agents from the Crime Task Force searched the home, detained several people, and conducted interviews as part of their investigation, a press release said.
Joel Packard, 23, and Tiffany Packard, 41, were arrested on narcotics charges, including the possession of Schedule II drugs for sale and possession of Schedule IV drugs for sale in a drug-free school zone, the press release said.
Jackson McGhee, 41, and James Brown, 27, were arrested on outstanding warrants in a related case, the press release said.
Other people were released and told to leave, the press release said.
Oak Ridge officials inspected the home for possible code violations to determine whether condemnation or other administrative actions might be appropriate, the release said.
“This is a classic example of why we have drug-free school zones because this property is directly across the street from St. Mary’s Church and School,” said Russell Barker, director of the Crime Task Force. “The nearby presence of these activities exposed the children to danger from the criminal element that frequents drug sale areas as well as from used and disposed hypodermic needles found in the area of the school playground. We were pleased to be involved with ORPD in helping to solve this problem.”
Besides the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, the Oak Ridge Police Department had help from the Oak Ridge Electric Department and Codes Enforcement Office.
“I am glad everyone is safe, and some of the people that have been causing a problem in the neighborhood have gone to jail,” Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said. “We aren’t going to tolerate these problems in Oak Ridge.”
Akagi said the Codes Enforcement Office may be able to find a “more permanent solution to this problem property.”
The Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force is an independent law enforcement agency in Anderson County comprised of local law enforcement including the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton Police Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Rocky Top Police Department, and the office of District Attorney General Dave Clark. The Crime Task Force also works with other federal, state, and local agencies to investigate drug, violent, and complex crimes, the press release said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
See previous story here.
Police officers from the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force and Oak Ridge Police Department serve a search warrant at 306 Vermont Avenue as part of an investigation into illegal drug activity on Friday morning, Feb. 24, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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