Hampton man charged in crystal meth bust
Published 9:30 am Friday, September 16, 2016
On Thursday, Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford announced the arrest of a local resident on drug charges after officers linked him to a major drug operation in Atlanta, Ga.
On August 18, Carter County Sheriff’s Office Drug Investigators working with Agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Elizabethton Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol coordinated an investigation that led to the arrest of Joseph A. Edge, 40, of Hampton, on charges of possession of Schedule VI drugs (marijuana) for resale, possession of Schedule II drugs (crystal methamphetamine) for resale, possession of Schedule II drugs (cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and attempted tampering with or destruction of evidence. At the time of Edge’s arrest, Lunceford said officers seized a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine along with a large quantity marijuana.
“Due to ongoing investigative efforts, the information within this case was withheld to protect the undercover nature of this operation, but is being made public at this time due to the conclusion of the investigation,” Lunceford said in a press release on Thursday.
CCSO Investigators received information in late July about illegal drug activity taking place at an apartment complex on Rittertown Road in Hampton. Subsequent information led law enforcement officials to believe that an individual who lived at that apartment complex, later identified as Edge, was trafficking significant amounts of crystal methamphetamine from that location, and had been receiving the drug in shipments from a source in Atlanta, Ga.
Late in the evening of August 18th, DEA Agents notified Carter County Drug Investigators that it was believed the individual in question was in possession of a large amount of crystal methamphetamine, after DEA Agents closed in on the source in Atlanta. Acting upon this information, the investigators were able to work with local DEA Agents and Troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic stop on the suspected individual. Following a traffic stop and subsequent search of the vehicle, nearly three quarters of a pound of crystal methamphetamine, along with approximately one pound of marijuana, and more than $5,000.00 in cash were discovered. The individual who was found in possession of the items was identified as Joseph Edge, and confirmed to be the same subject who resided at the apartment complex in Hampton.
Edge was booked into the Carter County Jail where he was released after posting a $12,500.00 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County General Sessions Court on Oct. 18.