DRUG CHIEF FIRED, WAIVES ARRAIGNMENT

CLEVELAND - Ken Wilson, the director of the 10th Judicial District Drug
Task Force, was officially fired from his job by DTF Board members
Wednesday evening during a called meeting at District Attorney General
Jerry Estes' office in Bradley County.

Wilson, 53, of 179 County Road 633, Etowah, was arrested around 11:30
Tuesday night and now faces charges of simple possession of Schedule II
drugs, according to court records.

This morning, Wilson waived his arraignment and entered a plea of not
guilty to the charges, court records stated. The arrest followed an
investigation begun Tuesday by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special
Agent In Charge Richard Brogan and agents David Guy and Scott Randolph.

The drugs were allegedly seized by TBI agents during the investigation at
Wilson's home near Etowah, according to authorities.

According to an affidavit filed in McMinn County General Sessions Court
today by Brogan, the drugs, allegedly cocaine, were seized at Wilson's
residence after he gave authorities consent to search.

"During the execution of the search, white powder was found by agents of
the TBI, with the said Mr. Wilson stating that the powder was his and that
it was cocaine," Brogan state in the affidavit.

Wilson is to appear next in General Sessions Court Oct. 31, according to
court records.

Simple possession of cocaine is a Class A misdemeanor, according to
Tennessee Code Annotated.

Estes called the DTF Board meeting in Cleveland Wednesday in the wake of
the allegations against Wilson to "discuss the future activities of the DTF
and possibly discuss what's to be done about the director."

The TBI conducted a presentation to the Board during a closed session at
the beginning of the meeting, then took up the discussion afterward. The
voting Board members present included Estes, McMinn County Sheriff Steve
Frisbie, Monroe County Sheriff Don Watson, Polk County Sheriff Bill Davis,
Bradley County Sheriff Dan Gilley and Athens Police Chief Chuck Ziegler.
McMinn County Chief Deputy Tim Smith also attended the meeting as Frisbie's
second, in the event the sheriff is unable to attend any meetings related
to the DTF.

With little discussion among the sheriffs and single police chief present,
Ziegler made a motion that Wilson be terminated from his post, seconded by
Davis.

The six Board members present voted unanimously to fire Wilson, who has
been at the post for the past four years. The firing took effect at midnight.

Immediately following the motion, Gilley made a motion to install Bradley
County deputy and former DTF member Jack Damuth as the interim DTF
director. The motion was unanimously approved.

Damuth has been with the Bradley County Sheriff's Department for just two
weeks but Gilley said he has considerable experience and had a 25-year
career in the U.S. military's Special Forces.

Estes said after the meeting he didn't think Wilson's arrest would affect
the prosecution of any pending cases under investigation by the DTF.

"I anticipate few problems because he was not involved in any of the cases
we have pending," Estes said.

Estes said the TBI investigation could take some time because of the amount
of paperwork and inventory agents are undertaking in the investigation.

"Because of our close working relationship with the DTF, we won't be
prosecuting the case," Estes said.

Estes said he would likely asked for assistance from the state
Comptroller's Office and noted the case would be prosecuted by a Pro tem
District Attorney's office yet to be named.

Estes said he was told by one of his assistant district attorneys that an
informant had contacted her regarding the possibility that evidence was
missing the the Charleston DTF office's evidence storage lock-up.

He said the allegations constituted enough reason to call in the TBI to
investigate.

The DTF Board also approved a motion that newly-appointed Damuth begin a
review of the DTF's policies and procedures.

"I assume we'd to this as a long term project," Estes commented.

And in a related motion by Ziegler, the DTF Board approved a motion for
Assistant District Attorney Shari Tayloe to set guidelines for the search
for a new DTF director.

Following the meeting Estes commented on the allegations' effect on him.
"It's totally disappointing," he said. "There's no doubt that trust and
confidence was put into this individual. There's a tremendous amount of
disappointment."

But Estes said he felt there would be a positive outcome to the investigation.

"Over the years this DTF has done a good job; there are still some good
employees," he said. "I see the DTF and law enforcement in this district
will bounce back stronger than ever."

The local DTF is usually comprised of five agents and a director, according
to officials.

Wilson appeared in General Sessions Court this morning for arraignment on
the charges. The agency, headquartered in Charleston, is supervised by the
DTF Board which meets quarterly, according to Estes, who chairs the Board.

Authorities said more charges could be filed as the investigation
continues. Estes said there was possibly more evidence missing from the DTF
evidence lock up, but he said he could not elaborate.

Estes said the investigation could take a considerable amount of time
because a large amount of paperwork must be matched to evidence, and an
out-of-district prosecutor would have to take the case.