Paris, Tenn.–The streets of Paris are a little safer today after Paris Police officers seized nearly 19 grams of the dangerous narcotic Fentanyl in an early Saturday morning traffic stop.
Officer Coltin Wyrick stopped an out-of-state vehicle for erratic driving on Highway 69N near Rison Street. During the stop it was determined that the driver, Wiley J. Booker of Illinois, had a driver’s license that was suspended out of Illinois.
While speaking with Booker and his passenger, Cornelious Gearles also of Illinois, Wyrick developed suspicion that the two were not being honest about their reason for travelling to Paris and asked for consent to search the vehicle they were driving.
Booker gave Wyrick consent to search the vehicle. During the search drug paraphernalia and residue were found and a search was then done on Booker and Gearles’ persons by Wyrick and Officer Adam Bevill.
Assistant Police Chief Ean Reed said, “Gearles was found to have several small baggies of a brownish powder substance which field-tested positive for Fentanyl and Heroin. Further search found additional baggies in Booker’s possession as well.”
Reed said with Fentanyl being so dangerous, any of the drug that is seized “gets double bagged and marked for safety.”
Both suspects were charged with Possession of Schedule 1 narcotic with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell and unlawful drug paraphernalia. Booker was also charged with driving on a suspended license. Both suspects were booked in the Henry County Jail and set a bond of $40,000 for the charges.
Chief Ricky Watson commended the officers on their diligence and looking beyond the initial traffic stop to get this dangerous drug off the streets of Paris and Henry County. Narcotics laced with Fentanyl have been the cause of numerous overdoses and deaths across the United States.