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Archives 12-27-2006 News Drug
Task Force nets operation, 278 plants
Drug Task Force nets operation, 278 plants
A large marijuana growing operation in the Hilham area was shut down by the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force on Thursday, Dec. 21. The search warrant for the Rocky Mound Road residence was obtained by Sgt. Bill Randolph, Livingston Police Department narcotics officer and agent with the task force, who developed information on the operation. Randolph described the operation as the biggest and most sophisticated he has seen in some time. "We could smell the growing marijuana inside as soon as we exited our cars," he said. Agents allegedly discovered pounds of marijuana ready to sell and approximately 278 growing marijuana plants. Sources said the high grade marijuana was valued at several hundred thousand dollars on the street. The indoor marijuana growing operation is believed to have been in full operation for many months. The plants were being fed water and nutrients through a pumping system, which was also seized by the task force. Agents reported that Virginia D. Willis, 37, and Michael King, 35, both of Rocky Mound Road, were arrested and have been charged with the manufacture of more than 100 marijuana plants. King was also charged with the possession of over 1/2 ounce of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver to others. King was jailed on a $100,000 bond, and Willis was jailed on a $50,000 bond. The task force agents were assisted at the residence by Livingston Police Detective Tim Poore and Officer Brandon Walker.
Grigg sentenced to more than 3 years in prison Former Overton County sheriff's deputy Gary Grigg and former sheriff's lieutenant Johnny Gann were sentenced Tuesday, Dec. 19 for their roles in violating the civil rights of an inmate detained in Overton County Jail, according to U.S. Department of Justice. Two other co-defendants, former Overton County sheriff's jail administrator Michael Gilpatrick and former lieutenant James Loftis, still await sentencing. Four Overton County law enforcement officers have either been convicted or pleaded guilty in the matter. For his role in the crime, Grigg received 41 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. Grigg is to begin his sentence on January 19. Gann was placed on probation for 2 years with a special condition that he spend 6 months in home detention. Grigg previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with Gilpatrick and Loftis to have the victim assaulted, and co-defendant Gann previously pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators during the investigation of the incident. In October, Gilpatrick was found guilty of orchestrating the beating of an inmate at the request of Grigg, who was trying to find someone who would beat the inmate. Gann pleaded guilty for his role in covering up the episode. Wan J. Kim, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said, "These law enforcement officers pledged to protect and serve, not to victimize and lie. "The criminal behavior of these aberrant officers seriously undermines the dedicated efforts of the vast majority of law enforcement officers who serve honorably. The Civil Rights Division is committed to the enforcement of every federal criminal civil rights statute, such as laws that prohibit the willful use of excessive force or other acts of misconduct by law enforcement officials. In fiscal year 2006, nearly 50% of the cases brought by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division involved such prosecutions. Since fiscal year 2001, the division has convicted 50% more defendants for excessive force and official misconduct than in the preceding 6 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Cohen for the Middle District of Tennessee and Civil Rights Division attorneys Gerry Hogan and Jim Felte prosecuted this case for the government.
Teen arrested for Hidden Valley burglary Livingston Police Officer Sean Allred surprised a late night burglary suspect recently at Hidden Valley Golf and Country Club, located on Valley Drive. According to reports, Officer Allred was on patrol and was checking the doors of the country club when 19 year-old Jonathan Hooten walked out the door. Hooten was allegedly wearing latex surgical gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints behind. Hooten, of Fisk Road, Livingston, was arrested for burglary. A follow-up investigation revealed that Hidden Valley Country Club had been burglarized the previous Sunday night, and that donation jars of change belonging to Livingston Academy's golf team were reported missing. Hooten was charged in that burglary and theft of property also. He was jailed at Overton County Justice Center. Livingston Police Chief Roger Phillips stated that his officers do not only patrol in vehicles. "We still get out and check doors every night," he stated.
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