DRUG CHARGES COULD BECOME FEDERAL CASE

Drug charges filed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in one of McMinn
County's largest-ever crack cocaine busts on Friday could now become a
federal case pending a U.S. District Court hearing scheduled for today in
Chattanooga, according to state troopers.

Troopers seized about a half-pound of suspected crack cocaine near the
Hiwassee River bridge Friday in the construction zone, according to officials.

Trooper Kevin Hoppe said this morning Barry Eugene Baker, 30, of P.O. Box
1625, Williamson, W.Va., and Angela Parker, 29, of 490 Six Flags Drive,
Austell, Ga., are both scheduled to appear in federal court in Chattanooga
on charges stemming from a traffic stop near the construction zone on I-75.

Baker was charged with possession of crack cocaine for resale, possession
of drug paraphernalia and a traffic violation, according to police and jail
records.

Parker was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug
paraphernalia and possession of crack cocaine for resale, police and jail
records stated.

Hoppe said he initiated a traffic stop after he became suspicious the
driver of the 1993 Cadillac might be intoxicated and he noticed the driver
was following too close to traffic ahead of him.

"I made the stop and noticed they were very nervous," Hoppe said this
morning. "I could smell marijuana and the real strong odor of air freshener."

Upon exiting the car, Parker allegedly was found in possession of a small
quantity of marijuana, Hoppe said.

Inside a one-gallon plastic bag, Hoppe said authorities found 10-1 oz. bags
of suspected crack cocaine, a little over half a pound of the drug. Along
with the suspected drugs, Hoppe said the car, electronic scales and about
$600 cash was also seized.

"This is pretty big," Hoppe said.

"I only know one time in McMinn County we've had one that big, the one the
Sheriff's Department got not long ago," he said referring to an operation
that led to multiple charges late last year.

Hoppe said the Drug Enforcement Administration had "adopted" the case and
Parker and Baker are scheduled for a hearing in federal court today. "You
usually don't find that quantity of crack because of the penalties," he
said. "We all thought crack was on the decrease, but apparently it's back."