By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—Two Paris residents are lodged in the Henry County Jail following what is the biggest seizure of cocaine in the county’s history by the Metro Crime Unit.
Mareka Curtis, age 24, and Brittany Jackson, age 29, both of 349 Rison St., are being held on a variety of drug charges after a search warrant was executed at their home Wednesday by the Metro Crime Unit, with Paris Investigator Derrek Colley, Officer Jamie James and his K9 Drago, and Sheriff’s Sgt. Jamie Myrick and other officers.
The street value of the cocaine found in the home is from $75,000-$80,000.
At a press conference Thursday morning at Paris City Hall, officers displayed the drugs found in the home, which included just under a pound of cocaine, including a block of cocaine and loose cocaine found in a large plastic bag and several smaller plastic baggies of cocaine, a large amount of high and medium grade marijuana in large baggies, including a freeze-dried bag, some $5,000 in cash,and drug paraphernalia including three sets of digital scales and containers. Three cell phones also were seized. The drugs were found in a cooler and scattered around the home, according to Colley.
Three children were also found in the home and other charges of child endangerment also will be pursued, according to Myrick.
The couple are charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia, with other charges pending. Bond is set at $125,000 each for Curtis and Jackson.
The search warrant was developed following a tip to Colley and Sheriff Monte Belew said, “If Metro Crime Unit had an Employee of the Month, it would probably be Derrek.”
Belew said, “This is another successful search warrant and comes off of another big drug bust in recent months. When I saw that block of cocaine last night, my jaw just dropped. You don’t see that in Henry County. It shows that big amounts of drugs are coming into our county, but we’re making big arrests to combat it.”
The U.S. Attorney is “very aggressive” and most probably will be pursuing federal charges in this case “given the criminal history” of the two people arrested, he said.
Top photo: From left, Myrick, Colley, Belew, James with Drago. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
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