A police investigation into a report of shoplifting at a local retail store led officers to arrest four people on drug charges.
Officers of the Elizabethton Police Department arrested Ronald Collins, 40, of 124 Victory Lane, Lot 12, Elizabethton, and charged him with simple possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, promotion of methamphetamine manufacture and evading arrest.
Officers arrested Connie Collins, 38, 124 Victory Lane, Lot 12, Elizabethton, and charged her with simple possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and promotion of methamphetamine manufacture.
Officers arrested Niella Osborne, 28, 6 Trivette Concourse, Apt. 7, Johnson City, and charged her with simple possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and promotion of methamphetamine manufacture.
Officers arrested Jonathan Goodwin, 37, 120 Hillside Drive, Johnson City, and charged him with simple possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, promotion of methamphetamine manufacture, 11th offense driving on a revoked license and speeding 20-plus miles per hour over limit.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, officers of the Elizabethton Police Department were dispatched to Walmart, located at 1001 Overmountain Drive in Elizabethton, on a report of two female subjects who had shoplifted merchandise from the store. Before officers could reach the scene, the 911 caller reported the two women had left in a white Chevrolet Cobalt and provided 911 dispatchers with the vehicle’s tag number.
EPD Capt. Jason Shaw spotted the car on West Elk Avenue traveling at 71 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone. Shaw then turned on his lights and siren and attempted to stop the car.
“The vehicle then made an abrupt left turn into the parking lot of the Quick Stop Market,” Shaw said. “The driver and the passenger then jumped from the vehicle. The passenger fled the scene on foot.”
Shaw was able to identify the driver as Goodwin and the passenger was later identified as Ronald Collins. Officers also found two female passengers in the car who were identified as Connie Collins and Osborne.
“Further investigation revealed that the females were shoplifting lithium batteries from Walmart,” Shaw said. “Officers searched the vehicle and found items that are known to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.”
According to police reports, among the items located in the vehicle were packages of pseudoephedrine , batteries, four small bags with methamphetamine residue, hypodermic syringes, filters and lithium batteries.
Ronald Collins was later located by officers and taken into custody.
All four subjects appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Monday.
Judge Keith Bowers Jr. appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Ronald Collins and set his bond at $6,000. Bowers appointed attorney C.J. Roberts to represent Connie Collins and set her bond at $6,000. Bowers appointed attorney Greg Norris to represent Goodwin and set his bond at $6,000. Bowers appointed attorney Chad Cash to represent Osborne and set her bond at $6,000.
All four are scheduled to return to General Sessions Court on April 18.