Seatbelt Violation Leads to 14 Drug Arrests

by Lewis Loflin

This is another case of birds of a feather flock together and Kingsport Police busted the entire chicken coup over what began as a seat belt violation. While serving a warrant police stumbled into a drug house full of sick looking people. Even worse is two women tried to smuggle drugs into the jail. That netted additional charges plus two men were charged with identity fraud.

Kingsport Police Arrest 14 Individuals on Drug Charges and Outstanding Warrants While Searching for Wanted Felon

On March 12, 2014 at approximately 3:10 PM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers attempted to stop a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo, because the driver was not wearing his seatbelt. The previously unidentified driver refused to stop and a brief pursuit ensued; however, the chase was soon terminated for the safety of everyone involved.

Through further investigation, Officers were able to develop Willie Martin Salyer as a suspect in this incident. A warrant was obtained, charging him with Driving on a Revoked License as a Habitual Traffic Offender, Felony Evading Arrest, Violation of Registration, and Violation of Seatbelt Law. They learned that Mr. Salyer had been staying at the residence of Selena Maggard, located at 322 Gibson Mill Road in Kingsport.

On March 16, 2014 at approximately 10:00 AM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to 322 Gibson Mill Road to search for Mr. Salyer. Ms. Maggard gave the officers consent, allowing them to search her residence for Mr. Salyer. Upon spotting the officers, Mr. Salyer first attempted to escape through a window, and then exited the residence via the back door; however, he was immediately captured just outside the door.

Officers were also able to locate Mr. Salyer's Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 270 Aesque Street in Kingsport. In accordance with state law, officers promptly seized the vehicle, as Mr. Salyer's driver license was revoked as a result of a prior conviction for Driving Under the Influence.

Meanwhile, back at 322 Gibson Mill Road, officers had found the interior of the residence littered with numerous items of drug paraphernalia. K.P.D. Vice Detectives were summoned to the scene to assist in the investigation. Further inspection turned up a quantity of Bath Salts, a Controlled Substance Analogue.

In addition to Mr. Salyer and Ms. Maggard, twelve other individuals were present at this residence and found to be directly connected with these drugs and items of paraphernalia. All fourteen individuals were arrested. Some of these suspects were individually in possession of additional drugs, including Legend Drugs, the Schedule III Drug Subutex, and Gravel, which is another Controlled Substance Analogue.

After their arrest, two of the female suspects were caught attempting to smuggle Legend Drugs into the Kingsport City Jail and were additionally charged with Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Facility. One of these individuals, Ms. Salyer-Evans, had pills in her pockets, while the other individual, Ms. Blizzard had pills concealed in two separate orifices of her body. A third female suspect, Ms. Stump, was also charged with Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Facility when she attempted to smuggle the Controlled Substance Analogue Gravel into the Kingsport City Jail hidden in her bra.

Two of the male suspects, Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Wilcox, were additionally charged with Criminal Impersonation and Identity Theft respectively when they attempted to mislead officers by falsely identifying themselves.

Prior to this incident, five of these individuals were already wanted on outstanding warrants.

This incident is a prime example of how a thorough investigation involving multiple officers working in concert, can yield significant results. What began as a seemingly simply traffic stop for a seatbelt violation resulted in fourteen individuals being arrested for multiple felony drug charges and outstanding warrants. All of the officers involved are commended for their diligence.

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What is Fake News?

Allcott and Gentzkow define "fake news" to be "news articles that are intentionally and verifiably false, and could mislead readers." They attempt to exclude disreputable media practices and bias from the definition. 62 percent of US adults get news on social media, while 65% distrust the mainstream media and that concerns me. Print media influence in the 2016 election was down to 8%.

I define "fake news" as articles designed to create false, biased, narratives with partial facts filtered through a Progressive filter, censor pertinent facts by omission, block discussion through editorial censorship, that is ideologically slanted, and designed not to give facts, but stoke emotion and sway public opinion. This skirts the fringes of propaganda and yellow journalism.

Ref. Journal of Economic Perspectives Volume 31, Number 2 Spring 2017 Pages 211-236, Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 Election by Hunt Allcott and Matthew Gentzkow

Sources of 2016 Election News:
Radio: 6.2%
Print: 8%
Social Media: 13.8%

Gallup polls reveal a continuing decline of "trust and confidence" in the mass media "when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately, and fairly."

Trust in Mainstream media: Democrats 52%, Republicans ~18%, overall ~35%. 65% of the public doesn't trust the mainstream media. 62 percent of US adults get news on social media.