On November 3, 2015 at approximately 8:30 PM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to Food City Grocery Store, located at 1205 North Eastman Road in Kingsport, in reference to a shoplifter. Store loss prevention personnel had already detained Jennifer L. Bowen after observing her leaving the store with approximately $60 in groceries for which she had not paid.
A routine search of her person incident to arrest, yielded an assortment of items which were highly indicative that she was involved in illegal drug trafficking. She was found to be in possession of a varying assortment of approximately 150 prescription pills as well as over $1,700 in cash, all of which was in small bills ($1, $5, and $10 bills). She also possessed items commonly used to ingest narcotics.
Ms. Bowen also had five different cell phones and a collection of drug transaction ledgers that she had written on “sticky” notes. Ironically, she was also in possession of multiple winning “scratch-off” lottery tickets and a collection of retail gift cards, some of which were redeemable for merchandise from Food City Grocery Stores.
Based on these findings, K.P.D. Vice Detectives responded to further investigate. Ms. Bowen was arrested and charged with:
1) Possession of a Schedule II Drug for Resale Within 1,000 Feet of a School
2) Possession of a Schedule III Drug for Resale Within 1,000 Feet of a School
3) Possession of a Schedule IV Drug for Resale Within 1,000 Feet of a School
4) Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia
5) Theft Under $500 (Shoplifting)
She was confined in the Kingsport City Jail in lieu of a $29,000 bond as set by the presiding magistrate; however, she has since been transferred to the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville. The cash in her possession was seized as suspected proceeds from prior unlawful drug transactions. |