K-9 Alerts to Drugs in Vehicle: Heroin Found Inside

By Jessie Williams

A 55-year-old Cookeville man was arrested last week after a Macon County drug K-9 alerted authorities to drugs in his vehicle.

 According to the affidavit of complaint written by Deputy Josh Meador of the Macon County Sheriff’s Department, the officer was dispatched to the parking lot of Coley’s Market, after it was reported a gray, Chevrolet Equinox had been parked there for three hours.

When Deputy Meador arrived on the scene, he located the vehicle and identified the driver as 55-year-old Sammy Lynn Qualls. While speaking with Mr. Qualls, the officer describes him as acting nervous, and his suspicion grew after Qualls refused the officer’s request for consent to search the vehicle. At that time, the officer requested that Deputy Jacob McClard and his partner, K-9 Otto, come to the scene.

The report states that Otto alerted to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle upon his arrival, which gave police probable cause to search inside.

Their search revealed a small, wooden box that contained approximately 6.6 grams of what Mr. Qualls stated was heroin. A pipe, with residue inside, was also located on the floorboard and a small, black box containing four pills was discovered. The pills were identified as Alprazolam, which is classified as a Schedule IV narcotic.

Mr. Qualls was arrested and transported to the Macon County Jail where he was charged with manufacturing of narcotics, simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $60,000, and he is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on February 12, 2020.