Police serving a warrant at a city residence found drugs and several items of drug paraphernalia inside the home.
Officers of the Elizabethton Police Department arrested Clinton Hale, 23, of 1517 Siam Road, Elizabethton, on Friday on a grand jury indictment charging him with the sale of Schedule VI drugs. He was additionally charged with possession of Schedule III drugs for resale, possession of Schedule IV drugs for resale, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia and simple possession of Schedule VI drugs.
When officers arrived at the home, Hale’s mother, Pamela Hale, opened the door, Officer John Bulla said in his report.
“I could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the house while we were speaking with her,” Bulla said.
Pamela Hale told police her son was not home and gave them permission to search the house. When he opened the door to Clinton Hale’s bedroom, Bulla said he saw several items of drug paraphernalia, prescription bottles and a marijuana pipe with marijuana lying in plain sight.
“We searched the room and the entire residence for Clinton and confirmed he was not home,” Bulla said, adding he had Pamela Hale contact her son so police could speak with him. After speaking to officers over the phone, Clinton Hale returned to the house, Bulla said.
“I spoke with Pamela while waiting for Clinton. During questioning, she admitted to smoking marijuana just prior to our arrival,” Bulla said. “I did locate a metal smoking device and a small piece of marijuana cigarette. Due to her cooperation and not having any marijuana in her possession, she was not charged.”
After Clinton Hale returned home, Bulla said he agreed to show officers where additional items were hidden in his bedroom. Officers seized 18 empty hypodermic syringes, five hypodermic syringes containing an orange substance, a marijuana pipe containing marijuana, a safe and prescription bottles for Buprenorphine, which is also known as Suboxone, and Clonazepam, which is also known as Klonopin. Based on previous investigations, Bulla said officers confirmed Clinton Hale sells a portion of his prescription medication.
Clinton Hale was taken into custody and transported to the Carter County Detention Center where he is being held on an $11,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Feb. 2.
“This was the second time we have located drugs at this residence while Pamela was present,” Bulla said. “I advised her of the evidence that was located. She admitted to knowing Clinton abuses drugs. I advised her she would be charged with maintaining a dwelling if drugs were located inside the residence in the future.”