TROOPER, BONDSMAN FACE DRUG CHARGES

Yearlong TBI Investigation Results In Indictments Of Four Area Men

A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper from Clarksville, a local bondsman
and night club owner and two other men face drug-related charges,
including conspiracy and possession, after their arrests this week.

Officials said the arrests Tuesday and Wednesday followed a yearlong
investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Clarksville
police.

THP Sgt. Reginald Bond Flagg, 40, who gave a 314 Atlantic Blvd.
address, and S&S Bonding owner, Thomas Reginald Sallee, 54, who gave a
1950 Dover Road address, were charged with conspiracy to possess more
than 300 grams of crack cocaine between July 7, 2003, and February
2004, said District Attorney General Thomas P. Thompson Jr. of the
15th Judicial District.

Flagg, who is assigned to security at the state Capitol, was charged
Tuesday night with two counts of conspiracy to possess cocaine and two
counts of official misconduct. He was released from Montgomery County
Jail on $50,000 bond.

Sallee, who also owns Sallee's nightclub on College Street, was
charged Wednesday with aggravated sexual battery; conspiracy to
possess cocaine for resale; two counts of conspiracy to deliver
cocaine; receiving, possession and transportation of alcoholic
beverages; transportation of untaxed alcohol; conspiracy to possess
untaxed alcohol; and possession of untaxed alcohol. Bail was set at
$80,000.

Eric Renell Majors, 49, who gave an 1125 Main St. address, was charged
Tuesday with two counts of cocaine possession. He was released from
jail Wednesday morning on $60,000 bond.

Michael Wayne Lunsford, 31, who gave a Pleasant View address, was
charged Wednesday evening with conspiracy to possess cocaine. His bail
amount was set at $100,000.

Charges for all four men were included in sealed indictments from a
Montgomery County grand jury.

TBI spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson said TBI agents conducted the
investigation in conjunction with Clarksville police.

No Clarksville police officials would comment on the investigation and
subsequent arrests. Nor would any law enforcement officials disclose
how the investigation began - Thompson called it "an ongoing
investigation."

Montgomery County District Attorney General John Carney said his
office was involved in the investigation but could not prosecute the
case because of its past relationship with Flagg and Sallee.

Thompson, whose judicial district includes Wilson, Trousdale, Macon,
Smith and Jackson counties, was brought in as a special prosecutor.

"Certainly, it's major arrests. They're all alleged at this point to
be involved in serious crimes," Thompson said. "But what's more
concerning to me is the status of the defendants - they are part of
the judicial system."

Thompson would not elaborate on the connection between the four
suspects. He said officials think they are friends and contend they
were "part of a similar conspiracy."

He said the conspiracy to possess 300 grams of crack cocaine charges
against Flagg and Sallee are Class A felonies and carry possible
prison sentences of 15 to 25 years.

Thompson said Sallee's aggravated sexual battery charge stemmed from a
complaint involving a girl under 13 years of age.

The alcohol-related charges against Sallee evolved during the
investigation and center around a Feb. 2 discovery that large
quantities of "miniature" bottles of liquor from Kentucky were being
sold at his nightclub, Thompson said.

The charges are not Sallee's only brush with the law. In 1988, he was
charged in the shooting death of a 23-year-old man at the nightclub.

In a March 1989 trial, a jury acquitted Sallee on a second-degree
murder charge.

Tennessee Department of Safety spokeswoman Beth Denton said Flagg has
been a trooper since August 1988.

"Sgt. Flagg has been recommended for termination (by THP Col. Lynn
Pitts), but I believe he has indicated he will resign," Denton said.
"If he does not quit, we will follow due-process proceedings to
terminate him."

Denton said the Department of Safety's internal affairs unit was aware
of the investigation and cooperated. She said Flagg, who became a
sergeant with THP in September 2000, has been on administrative leave
since Sept. 24.

"He holds a position of high public trust, so his credibility and
reputation are essential to his ability to carry out his duties,"
Denton said of Flagg. "His actions resulted in the officer's
disciplinary actions."