Andrews – In an unexpected twist of fate on the otherwise tranquil streets of Andrews, a routine traffic enforcement operation snowballed into a significant drug bust, unveiling a hidden underbelly of narcotics trafficking that has left this small town reeling, according to a release from the town.
On Thursday morning, an Andrews police officer, positioned strategically near Main Street and Whisenhunt Hill, was monitoring speeding violations following a flurry of local complaints. Armed with his Radar, the officer flagged down a white Nissan Altima clocked at 42 mph in a 35 mph zone.
While the officer spoke to the vehicle’s occupants, identified as Robbinsville residents Randy Dale Price Jr., the driver, and Tyler David Holland, a passenger, a second Andrews police officer arrived on scene and allegedly noticed a firearm lying on the floorboard near Holland’s feet.
Both Price and Holland were removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest – Price for driving on a suspended license and Holland for possession of a firearm with altered serial numbers.
The plot thickened when officers allegedly found approximately 103 grams of crystal methamphetamine on Holland, leading to serious trafficking charges for both men, among other offenses. Each received a $200,000 bond.
The story doesn’t end there. The arrests unraveled a complex web, leading to a raid at 67 Watauga Lane in Andrews, where officers unearthed a den of illicit activity. Assisted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics division, the raid resulted in the arrest of Markus Drew McClure, Jennifer Adrianne Greene, Travis Dewayne Orr and Stephanie Jackson Bridges on various charges ranging from possession of methamphetamine to resisting a public officer.