January 29, 2010 Contact: Marian O'Briant Telephone: 273-5110
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rutledge man arrested on meth charge
Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said today that a Rutledge man was taken into custody Thursday evening and charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine following an investigation by the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force.
Jason Robert Ryan, 34, of Rutledge, is being held at the Blount County Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond pending a hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. February 3.
Thursday evening, investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force were alerted of a person shopping for pseudoephedrine at some local retail stores. Investigators responded to the scene of one of the stores, and made contact the suspect in the parking lot. Further investigation revealed that he was shopping for precursors to make methamphetamine.
Another individual was not charged, and released from custody.
The Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of officers and deputies of the Alcoa Police Department, Maryville Police Department, and the Blount County Sheriff's Office. They are all members of the Tennessee Meth Task Force.
