A traffic stop in the Cosby area last week ended with two people in handcuffs and deputies hauling off suspected methamphetamine, Suboxone strips, and several firearms, according to Cocke County authorities. The sheriff’s office identified the arrested pair as 54-year-old Martin Ball and 39-year-old Melinda Reed, and posted photos of what they say they seized on the department’s social feed.
In a Facebook post, the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office said deputies pulled over a vehicle on June 5 and arrested Ball after officers reported finding suspected methamphetamine in the car. Narcotics detectives later obtained a search warrant for Ball’s Cosby-area residence, the post states, and carried it out with help from patrol deputies.
According to the same post, officers found methamphetamine, Suboxone strips and multiple firearms during the search of the home. The sheriff’s office said Reed was arrested on June 8 on several drug charges. Officials added that “all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty” and noted that the investigation is still active. The post also includes photos of the items deputies say they recovered.
Part of a Growing Drug Crackdown
This latest bust is one more entry in a growing list of narcotics cases in Cocke County this year, as deputies continue rolling out searches and traffic-stop investigations that have turned up meth, fentanyl and firearms. Local coverage has highlighted a February Del Rio search that turned up meth and guns and an April warrant that led to the seizure of hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills, as reported by Del Rio drug den bust and WVLT.
What Happens Next
The sheriff’s office did not list specific statute numbers in the Facebook update, but said the case involves drug and firearm charges. The exact counts, along with any court dates, will show up in public booking and court records. For official agency contacts and public-records guidance, residents can check the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office website.
For now, the released photos offer an early look at the evidence deputies say they seized, while court filings and jail logs will provide the formal paper trail as the cases move forward. We will continue to track public records and local reporting for developments.
