Murphy – Two Cherokee County men were arrested on drug, firearms and other felony charges when a year-long investigation ended with a car chase.
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On Dec. 4, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by John Barriero in Murphy after learning his driver’s license had been revoked.
Barriero fled and tossed multiple items, including drugs and firearms, from the vehicle as it was pursued, according to the sheriff’s office. The pursuit ended on Texana Road, and the items tossed by Barriero were located with assistance from Murphy Police Department.
Barriero, 41, was found to be in possession of 37 grams of cocaine, 340 grams of methamphetamine, 93 grams of marijuana, 21 grams of fentanyl and more than $7,000 cash, the sheriff’s office alleged.
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Deputies served a search warrant at the residenceBarriero shared with Enerjai Pendleton, 27, in Ranger. There, about 516 grams of methamphetamine, 115 grams of fentanyl, 181 grams of cocaine, over 800 ecstasy pills, 5 pounds of marijuana, 15 firearms, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia were found and seized, the sheriff’s office alleged.
Barriero was arrested and was being held in lieu of $2,36 million secured bond for the following offenses:
- Three counts of trafficking methamphetamine.
- Three counts of trafficking in opium.
- Three counts of trafficking in cocaine.
- One count of trafficking in ecstasy.
- Two counts of possession of firearm by convicted felon.
- Two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule II controlled substance.
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule VI controlled substance.
- Possession with Intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule II controlled substance ecstasy.
- Felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle.
- Reckless driving.
- Driving while license revoked.
- Felony maintaining a dwelling for the keeping of controlled substances.
Barriero’s brother, Jose, is a resident of Hiwassee Dam. He shared this with the Cherokee Scout.
“I wanted to reach out and personally acknowledge to Cherokee County the extremely irresponsible, harmful and ridiculous actions of my brother, whom was arrested on Dec. 4. I do not speak to my brothers, either of them (the other being Jeremy Kroll) for just these reasons,” Jose Barriero wrote.
“I am supremely embarrassed at the harm he has caused to the people and reputation of the entire area. I commend local law enforcement on their due diligence and efforts in justice and protecting the people (especially the youth) of their community. I only wish that it was not my blood that was, in any way, contributing to the problem.”
Pendleton was being held in lieu of $800,000 secured bond for the following offenses:
- Trafficking in opium.
- Trafficking in methamphetamine.
- Trafficking in cocaine.
- Trafficking in ecstasy.
- Two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule II controlled substance.
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver cocaine.
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver ecstasy.
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule VI controlled substance.
- Felony maintaining a dwelling for the keeping of controlled substances.