A routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Putnam County ended with two Nashville-area men in cuffs and roughly two pounds of methamphetamine off the road, according to deputies.
Deputies say they pulled over a white Nissan on Wednesday for lane violations and illegal window tint. Once they approached the car, they reported smelling marijuana, called in a K9, and ultimately found more than $3,000 in cash along with the drugs. Both men were taken to the Putnam County Jail and now face felony drug charges.
According to WZTV, the stop happened on Wednesday evening on I-40 after deputies spotted the driver failing to maintain lane and noticed the illegal tint. Deputies told the outlet they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The K9 unit positively indicated the presence of illegal narcotics, and a search turned up about two pounds of methamphetamine and more than $3,000 in cash. The men were identified as Tynerick Dewon Turner of Nashville and Arhson Dejun Jackson of Madison, and each was booked into the Putnam County Jail.
Sheriff Eddie Farris did not exactly mince words about the message he hoped the bust would send. In a press release, he wrote, "If you bring drugs into Putnam County, there will be consequences," according to WZTV. The sheriff's office shared photos of the seized meth packages and the cash, and deputies said they are keeping a close eye on interstate traffic as part of ongoing interdiction work.
I-40 Stops Have Led To Big Seizures Before
This latest arrest falls into a familiar pattern along I-40, where what start as minor traffic violations often turn into major drug cases. As reported by WSMV, previous Putnam County traffic stops have uncovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms. Local reports have also highlighted how troopers and sheriff's deputies concentrate patrols along that stretch of interstate, including one bust where Cookeville troopers nabbed a speeder with a meth and crack stash. Law enforcement officials say that kind of routine stop remains one of the most common ways to spot suspected trafficking on long highway runs.
Charges And Next Steps
Turner and Jackson were each charged with the manufacture, delivery, and sale of methamphetamine. Bond for both men was set at $55,000.
Court records show Turner is scheduled to appear on June 8, while Jackson has a court date set for June 6.
