KPD e-News Release: Simple Yet Effective Traffic Enforcement Removes Yet Another Drug Dealer from Kingsport’s Streets

	Kingsport Police Department 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Simple Yet Effective Traffic Enforcement Removes Yet Another Drug Dealer from Kingsport’s Streets
DATE:		March 16, 2017
CASE #:		17-006018

GENERAL NARRATIVE
The Kingsport Police Department is seeing a recent trend where simple yet effective traffic enforcement is yielding significant results. Once again, a drug dealer is behind bars on multiple felony charges following a seemingly routine traffic stop for a relatively minor traffic violation. On March 15, 2017 at approximately 8:15 PM, a Kingsport Police Lieutenant was working a traffic enforcement detail funded by a grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) in the 400 block of Allen Drive in Kingsport. He observed a white 2008 GMC Sierra pickup truck with the passenger-side head light not working. A traffic stop ensued, during which it was determined that the driver, identified as Jonathan A. Vanzant, had been driving on a revoked license. Mr. Vanzant was arrested and transported to the Kingsport City Jail. Prior to entry into the jail, he was asked if he had any contraband on his person, and he denied having any. During a thorough search at booking, an alert K.P.D. Corrections Officer discovered a pill bottle concealed in Mr. Vanzant’s pant leg near his groin. The bottle contained the following: 1) 3 small baggies of a green plant material believed to be Marijuana 2) 2 small baggies of a crystal substance believed to be Methamphetamine 3) A baggie containing 8 yellow pills believed to be Xanax and 2 orange pill fragments believed to be Barbiturates The Corrections Officer also located a syringe in the pocket of Mr. Vanzant’s pants. Based upon his initial traffic violations and the subsequent discovery of contraband, he was charged with the following: 1) Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine) for Resale 2) Possession of a Schedule IV Drug (Xanax) for Resale 3) Possession of a Schedule VI Drug (Marijuana) for Resale 4) Simple Possession of a Controlled Substance (Barbiturates) 5) Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia (Syringe) 6) Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Facility 7) Driving on a Revoked License 8) Violation of Light Law He was arraigned the following morning and currently remains confined in the Kingsport City Jail in lieu of a $32,250 bond as specified by the presiding judge.

SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name	Jonathan A. Vanzant
Age	Date of Birth 2/11/1978 39 Years of Age
Gender/Race	Male/White
Residency	532 Preakness Court Kingsport, TN
Charge(s)	1) Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine) for Resale 2) Possession of a Schedule IV Drug (Xanax) for Resale 3) Possession of a Schedule VI Drug (Marijuana) for Resale 4) Simple Possession of a Controlled Substance (Barbiturates) 5) Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia (Syringe) 6) Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Facility 7) Driving on a Revoked License 8) Violation of Light Law