February 6, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A joint investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and Smithville Police Department has netted more than 103 grams of Heroin and Fentanyl along with other narcotics and resulted in the arrest of two suspected drug dealers.
61-year-old Tommye Lou Bell of Hawkins Drive and 35-year-old Gary Christopher Ponder of South College Street were taken into custody Sunday night after the local law enforcement agencies executed search warrants at their homes. In addition to the narcotics which also included morphine, diazepam, and marijuana, officers seized $20,000 in cash believed to be from illegal drug sales, a 2021 Honda CRV, and a Glock 43 nine-millimeter pistol and ammunition.
Bell is under a $210,000 bond and will appear in DeKalb County General Sessions Court February 16 on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule I drug (Heroin), Schedule II drug (Fentanyl), Schedule II drug (Morphine), Schedule IV drug (Diazepam), a Schedule VI drug (Marijuana), and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Ponder is charged with 2 counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule I drug (Heroin). His bond is $100,000 and he will make a court appearance on February 23.
“On Sunday, February 5 in a joint operation with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Smithville Police Department, two search warrants were served at two different addresses including the homes of Bell and Ponder,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins in a joint statement.
“At Bell’s home we found (marijuana) edibles with too high of a THC amount to be legal in Tennessee. There were 26 baggies of a white powdery and red powdery substance believed to be Heroin and Fentanyl totaling 103.31 grams with a street value of $15,000. We also seized morphine and diazepam pills, $20,000 in cash, a 2021 Honda CRV, and a Glock 43 nine-millimeter handgun and ammo,” said Sheriff Ray and Police Chief Collins.
According to the warrants against Bell, the search of her home turned up 26 baggies of a powdery substance believed to be Heroin/Fentanyl that weighed an estimated 103.31 grams, a variety of marijuana products including 28 bags of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana that weighed 7.4 ounces: 10 baggies of edibles (marijuana), four jars of marijuana cigarettes, and four tubes containing marijuana joints. Two- 30 milligram morphine pills and 3.5 diazepam pills were also found and collected at the residence along with numerous baggies, scales, and other paraphernalia, a Glock 43 nine-millimeter pistol and ammunition, an estimated $20,000 in cash, and a vehicle.
The warrants against Ponder alleged that he sold to a confidential source working for the Smithville Police Department 3.3 grams of Heroin on February 2 and 14 grams of Heroin on February 5.
“We were glad to be in an operation with the city police department. We had a good night, Sunday night and were able to knock off big dealers and take drugs off the street. I am sure there will be more to come later as Bell faces additional charges,” said Sheriff Ray.
“We enjoyed working with the sheriff’s department,” added Police Chief Collins. “We are all on the same team although we wear different badges. We just want to get this dope off the streets,” he said.