FEW DRUGS FOUND, BUT 4 ARRESTED IN MCMINN LOCKDOWN

A search for drugs at McMinn County High School Tuesday netted some small
quantities of suspected drugs and at least one weapon as deputies and drug
dogs swept school property.

Sheriff Steve Frisbie said the raid Tuesday morning at the high school was
a "scaled-down" version of previous lockdowns.

"We were requested by the District Attorney's office that they would like
to have another lockdown at MCHS and they informed me that they would just
like my department to handle it," Frisbie said. "We wanted to do it a
little different this time."

Frisbie said two adults and two juveniles were arrested in the operation.

Frisbie said the sweep was conducted largely by the Sheriff's Department's
School Resource Officers.

Assistant District Attorneys Richard Newman, Chuck Pope and Wylie
Richardson, Deputy B.J. Johnson and his canine, Brondo, Tennessee Highway
Patrol Trooper Kevin Hoppe and his canine, Katie, and Drug Task Force Lt.
Bobby Queen and his canine, Kilo, and MCSD First Lt. Fred Schultz were also
present during the raid, according to Frisbie.

Arrested were two adults, Jonathan Gore, 18, of 171 County Road 956,
Calhoun, and Donnie Pickel, 19, of 109 County Road 146, Riceville,
according to law enforcement officials and jail records.

Gore was charged with simple possession of a controlled substance in a
drug-free school zone, while Pickel was charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia and possession of a prohibited weapon, according to police.

A small quantity of suspected marijuana was allegedly found after one of
the canines alerted on Gore's vehicle, according to reports. Pickel
allegedly had cigarette rolling papers and a pair of brass knuckles in his
vehicle, reports stated.

Both Gore and Pickel are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court
Thursday for arraignment.

One of the two juveniles charged in the operation, a 17-year-old, allegedly
had five "hand-rolled cigarettes" containing what authorities suspected was
marijuana, reports stated.

No report had been filed at press time on the second juvenile reportedly
charged on petitions.

"The parking lot was where we started at," Frisbie said.

Frisbie said the SROs were unaware of the impending operation until they
arrived at the Sheriff's Department Tuesday morning. Schultz briefed the
operation group before they headed for MCHS around 10 a.m., Frisbie said.
Schultz coordinated the operation, he said.

"We were happy with our scaled-down operation," Frisbie said. "The
operation went smooth," he said. "School officials also liked how it was
handled."

Frisbie said there were plans to do other small operations. "We need to
mention, you never know when we're coming again," he said.

"This had been planned for the past three weeks to a month. The officers
participating didn't even know about it. Everything went smooth."

Added Newman, "I think they did a superb job. I think it will work as a
deterrent for the schools. I think school staff and law enforcement were
very pleased with the success of it. We certainly were. Freddie Schultz and
the SROs did a very professional, superior job."

Newman said he thought the smaller, scaled-down version of previous
lock-downs worked better than past larger operations.

"I think the smaller scaled-down version - hitting particular areas - is
just cleaner, easier and less disruptive to the school. It seemed to work
better that way," Newman said. "We certainly congratulate Freddie, the
sheriff and his staff and the school staff who participated." . E-mail:
bbenton@xtn.net