Email link

Respond to editor

Read comments (19)

Share link

Drug roundup nets dealers, former police chief

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Donald Bennett, former Trimble police chief, is taken into the Dyer County jail accompanied by a Dyer County Sheriff's deputy. Bennett was picked up in Trimble on the charge of manufacturing, delivery and sale of a controlled substance.

Last week, the Dyersburg Police Department and Dyer County Sheriff's Department served indictments on alleged drug dealers in Dyer County as a result of a six-month undercover drug operation.

The sting targeted the dealers in both the city and the county.

Officers and deputies swept the area in search of more than 30 individuals that were indicted on various charges, such as the sale of cocaine, sale of marijuana, sale of prescription pills and the sale of methamphetamine.

As the operation got under way and the unsuspecting dealers were picked up, a steady stream of law enforcement vehicles began pouring into the Dyer County Justice Complex with occupants in the back seat.

Several of these offenders were also charged with selling drugs in a Drug Free Zone, which is within 1,000 feet of a school, childcare agency, public library, recreational center or park.

The sale of drugs within a Drug Free Zone enhances the original charge of the suspect.

Among the suspects picked up in the raids was former Trimble Police Chief Donald Bennett. He, along with most of the others, was charged with the manufacturing, delivering and selling of a controlled substance.

Bennett started as a police officer in Trimble in July of 1989 and then became the police commissioner in October of that same year. He served in that position until March of 1994 and officially resigned on Nov. 18, 1994.

"It was a good joint effort between both departments," said Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt. "It was a good operation, with positive results."

Dyersburg John Holden praised the efforts of the department and officers involved in the operation and their ongoing commitment in ridding the community of drugs.

According to Dyersburg interim Chief of Police Roger Dudley, the department will continue undercover drug operations in an effort to thwart the sale of drugs.

"I appreciate all of the officers involved in the operation," said Dudley.

Captured during the operation were: Paul Barch, 51, Jonathan Brasfield, 20, Donald Bennett, 52, Misty Brewer, 25, Robert Brewer, 29, Victor Coleman, 32, Albert Dewalt, 25, Timothy Dewalt, 37, Jonathan Green, Brad Haymon, 34, Joseph Lee, 36, Eunice Mack, Tera Mitchell, 26, James Moore, 24, Sadie Powell, 56, Winston Sharp, 56, Tana Shipley, 25, Calvin Taylor, 54, Vandy Taylor, 32, Kenneth Thomas, 48, Leslie Toles Jr., 31, Rashad Vaughn, and Thomas Ward, 39.

Nicholas Haymon, 28, turned himself in to authorities. He was then turned over to US Marshals on federal charges.

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on stategazette.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

well, well, well, lets see how the d.a. deals with one of their own.....

-- Posted by Blueprint on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 11:47 AM

make a deal will be at his best? all they want is more money in their pockets?

-- Posted by jscott on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 1:27 PM

They didn't get them all...there are still many more in Trimble. Go back and clean the place out!

-- Posted by justme30 on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 2:35 PM

If there are still more drugs in Trimble, shouln't the Trimble Police be doing something????

-- Posted by mythoughtonit on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 3:52 PM

What about the drugs in Dyersburg? Our city policemen need to get them out of here first!

And for goodness sake....STOP making deals and put the drug dealers in JAIL and keep them there.

-- Posted by Belle123 on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 4:09 PM

Whatever happened 2 the good name of trimble..it's crazy.......man...i hope.. the sadie powell is not sadie from dyersburg fabrics....

-- Posted by DMASE on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 4:33 PM

to everyone wishing that the accused go to jail you need not get caught in your dirt. The difference in you and them is you havent been caught. Fake --- dogooders.

-- Posted by tstegallm on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 5:55 PM

yea, you buncha fakes... i mean, don't we all sell cocaine near schools?

-- Posted by jeramy on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 6:58 PM

BE SURPRISED HOW MANY SO CALLED "OFFICIALS" ARE ON THE TAKE!!!! ALL ABOUT SELLING OUT!! ISN'T THAT THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE IN MEXICO AT PRESENT!! CORRUPT OFFICERS!!! GUESS IT IS A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT....

-- Posted by Beachvol on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 9:05 PM

It's like a dentist pulling a tooth if you pull the tooth ,you just lost a future check.If you lock up all the drug dealers you don't need as much money going to law enforcement .SUPPLY AND DEMAND .Cops know this as well as do the drug dealers .Much like government its about money flow ,funding and tax dollars.

-- Posted by BIZCUITZNGRAVY on Wed, Apr 22, 2009, at 7:23 AM

I guess putting the former police chief on the front page generates more paper sales doesn't it? Even if he held that office 15 yrs ago. People should not be so hard and critical. Mr. Bennett is not a bad person, he is a person who has made bad choices. He is an addict. Addiction is a progressive disease. Yes, he has to pay the consequences for his actions. But he also needs help. What is happening to him can happen to anyone or to anyone's family. Would you be so quick to lock them up and throw away the key if this was your son, daughter, mom, or dad? I don't think so. All of these people need prayer. So do their families, they are hurting pretty bad right now.

-- Posted by apayton on Wed, Apr 22, 2009, at 6:09 PM

It's strange to see that people act like they want drugs and drug dealers off the streets, but if a buddy or anyone who isn't in their clique gets arrested, they blame the law or defend by saying he/she isn't a bad person......either ya want your town clean or ya don't.....can't have it both ways...

-- Posted by DMASE on Wed, Apr 22, 2009, at 6:30 PM

If they want to clean Trimble up, they should start with the people up at city hall and go from their. They go and beg people to snitch on someone, but they don't want a person saying how crooked they are. A cop should not go around begging like they are right now, they will end up looking like fools listening to gossip and hear say. That is the bad thing about Trimble, it is easy to slander a person's name. I am not saying the people they got did not have it coming. I just think that Trimble cops should leave the investigating up to the real cops from Dyer County Sheriffs and quit begging around town for people to talk. They need all new cops in Trimble.

-- Posted by smn on Fri, Apr 24, 2009, at 11:16 PM

SMN, I agree with what you said. From what I heard there weren't any Trimble cops around when the Sheriff's Dept. did this. I guess they don't trust the Trimble police department either.

-- Posted by mythoughtonit on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 8:40 AM

A former police chief selling drugs. I hope the DA makes a serious example out of this idiot. I wonder how long the Trimble Police have been letting this guy do this right under their noses?

-- Posted by tellitlikeitis on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 9:57 AM

Trimble police do what ever they want. It is Trimble politics. It is all about who you know and what you can do for them. If you try to complain about someone that they are buddies with they do nothing for you and let them know you complained about them. Trust me I know. They do what they want even when on duty.

-- Posted by smn on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 11:59 AM

Yes turn them in before they kill some one or their self. I think you need prayer, and a reality check. The sick need help not some one taking up for them. I bet his family is glad he got caught, if not they need help..... reread DMASE post and answer the OUESTION!

-- Posted by different/visons/12 on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, at 6:44 PM

Hey apayton... Get a grip on reality. He should be plastered on the front of the paper. All of them should! and you can forgive and pray all you want but these folks are supplying our kids and grandkids with these poisons. So this ex-police chief is addicted. How sad. Didn't he make the choice to start using these drugs himself? Don't these folks choose to break the law to begin with? I guess you think that when a drunk driver kills they should be babied as well. I guess that person didn't make their own decision to drink and drive. Oh, and let's forgive these addicts for the stealing and the violence while we're at it. They can't help it cos they're addicted and they've gotta get their drugs some how. If we don't get tough on these people we're giving the younger folks the idea that it's ok to be stupid and lawless cos everyone's gonna pray for you and feel sorry for you. I have had family members who were addicted. They lied to me, stole from me, and hurt others in more ways than I can count. I prayed for them. I let them cry all their pathetic excuses onto my shoulder. Know what finally helped them? tough love, harsh treatment from family and the law, public humiliation, and JAIL TIME!

All of you who make these comments like apayton, the problem is YOU! Bleeding hearts! You feel sorry for everyone. Everyone is a "good person" who just made a mistake. Let me ask you your question in another way. What if this "good person" makes a "mistake" and kills your parent, child or sibling while he's trying to make his drugs or sell his drugs or steal money to buy his drugs? You'd be real quick to lock him up and throw away the key! And his family? they ARE NOT responsible for his actions. They have nothing to be ashamed of. I know they are hurting. But I would hope that they're hurting because of the person he's become, not because he's going to jail or because it's embarrassing to have his picture on the front page.

-- Posted by izzy on Wed, Apr 29, 2009, at 3:18 PM

izzy...You said it good and clear... and your right on!!

-- Posted by different/visons/12 on Wed, Apr 29, 2009, at 3:55 PM