Iconium man nabbed for drugs

An 37-year-old Iconium Road man was arrested by the Cannon County Sheriff's Office on multiple drug charges.

The suspect, identified as James Estell Brown, denied selling any prescription drugs reported Investigator Brandon Gullett.

Gullett said he was advised by Brown "He hadn't sold any prescription pills but that he would give them to people who needed them and he would in turn receive prescription pills back from them if he needed them."

"I then asked James if he had given any prescription pills to anyone in the past month which James stated that hadn't anyone been to his house over the past month," Gullett reported.

It was then the investigator revealed to Brown his house had been under surveillance for the past month and that a number of cars had been spotted there.

At that point, Brown said he didn't have anything else to say.

The Sheriff's Office, assisted by the Tennessee National Guard Counter Drug Unit, had maintained surveillance on Brown's house on Iconium Road until a search warrant could be obtained.

Executing the warrant were Gullett, Investigator Chris Brown, Sheriff Darrell Young, Chief Deputy Anthony Young and Deputy Mike Agee.

Once inside the dwelling, investigators discovered several pill bottles with the label ripped off in a brown dresser sitting next to a wood stove. Also inside the dresser, a peanut container was found containing $600 in 20-dollar bills. An AR-15 rifle was discovered loaded. In another room, a loaded Highpoint 9-mm pistol was discovered next to a bottle of hydrocodone with Brown's name on it.

An additional $380 in cash and a cell phone were taken following a search of Brown's person.

Brown was transported to the Sheriff's Office where, after questioning, he was charged with maintaining a dwelling and possession of Schedule II drugs with intent to sell. A hearing was set for April 5 in General Sessions Court.