UNDERCOVER OPERATION AT TENNESSEE’S “CAMP REGGAE FESTIVAL” NETTED THIRTEEN DRUG ARRESTS!

By Richard Scott—–

An undercover drug operation at a Memorial Day Weekend Reggae Music Festival in Isabella, netted 13 arrests for possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the State of Tennessee 10th Judicial Task Force conducted several saturation patrols in Polk County over the Memorial Day weekend as part of both Agencies’ stance on drug enforcement. The activities of both agencies were very effective and removed a sizeable amount of narcotics from the hands of drug users.
The undercover operation targeted Camp Reggae, an annual three day festival featuring Reggae Music and Jamaican Food and Drink, sponsored by members of the Reggae Band, the Natti Love Joys, at their property off Calvender Road in Isabella. A website promoting the May 24th through 26th event promised entertainment from nine bands and a DJ, with tickets available at the gate for $75.
Half a dozen agents from the 10th District Drug Task Force began arriving in the Copper Basin on Tuesday to set up surveillance and make other preparations for the operation. The group included at least one undercover agent in an unmarked vehicle, and three drug-sniffing dogs.
The majority of arrests took place on Friday, the opening day of the festival, with most of those charged facing counts of simple drug possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia. One suspect was charged with Possession of Drugs for Resale, another for unlawful possession of a firearm, and a third for resisting arrest.  All thirteen were sent to the county jail in Benton to await Bail Hearings.

The Drug Task Force Agents left the festival on Saturday, after meeting with organizers of the event. Those arrested during the operation include:
Paul Erik Michael Bakland, 26, Ooltewah, TN, Simple Possession Schedule VI Drugs, Simple Possession Schedule III Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Catherine Conlon, 26, Blairsville, GA, Simple Possession Schedule VI Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Robert Christopher Beeman, 24, Canton, GA, Possession of Schedule I Drug for Resale, Simple Possession of Marijuana; Bryan Allen Jimenez-Louver, 19, Blairsville, GA, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Phillip A Ladd, 34, Kintston, TN, Possession of Marijuana over 1⁄2 Ounce, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Barbara R. Abston, 18, Kingston, TN, Simple Possession of Schedule I Drugs; Anthony Hayton, 24, Knoxville, TN, Simple Possession, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Albert White, 20, Epworth, GA, Simple Possession; Brent Tyler Ledford, 18, Murphy, NC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Christopher Thomas Bearden, 27, Fairmont, GA, Simple Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm; Kevin Matthew Ross, 26, Blairsville, GA, Simple Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Matthew R. Renno, 24, Tampa, FL, Simple Possession of Marijuana, Simple Possession of Schedule I Drugs, Resisting Stop, Frisk, Halt and Arrest; Micheal W. McBride, 25, Raleigh, NC, Possession of Schedule VI Drugs.
According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, during the period from 05/22/2013 to 05/27/2013, the following occurred:
Drug Related Arrests: 14
Non-drug Arrests: 17
D.U.I. Drugs/Alcohol: 2
Juvenile Petitions: 1
Drug Vehicle/Drug Cash Seizures: 2 (1 vehicle and $300.00 cash)
Citations: 5
Warnings: 36