Anonymous tip leads to Anderson drug bust

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The Herald Bulletin on 6/22/2017 by Stuart Hirsch

Two men charged as pot, $69,000 in cash is seized

Close to $69,000 in cash and more than 6 pounds of marijuana was seized when police arrested two suspects Wednesday.

ANDERSON — Even a man on in-home detention has to earn a living.

But Madison County authorities drew the line Wednesday on what they say was a business enterprise that involved selling marijuana.

Members of the Madison County Drug Task Force arrested 37-year-old Elliott Scott Stapleton on suspicion of dealing marijuana at his home in the 1300 block of Lindberg Road.

They also arrested Lucas James Williams, 33, 1800 block of Meridian Street, on suspicion of dealing marijuana, according to a probable cause affidavits naming both men.

The investigation began when an officer with the county’s adult probation department received an anonymous tip that Stapleton was allegedly distributing marijuana from his house.

When probation officers made an unannounced visit to the house, they found several Mason jars filled with suspected marijuana, some in baggies, as well as a digital scale and drug paraphernalia.

When asked by investigators if he would be willing to talk about the marijuana and where it came from, Stapleton declined. But he added that it “was a one-time thing,” the affidavit states.

Police said they seized about 12.5 ounces of suspected marijuana at Stapleton’s house and nearly $69,000 in cash.

Police charged Stapleton with Level 5 felony dealing in marijuana, (enhanced because of a previous conviction), and Level 6 felony maintaining a common nuisance. He may also face a charge of violating the terms of in-home detention. He’s being held at the Madison County Jail on $10,000 bond.

Williams, who was at Stapleton’s house when probation officers arrived, said that some of the marijuana found at the house was his.

He also signed a consent waiver allowing officers to search his Meridian Street apartment. Williams signed the consent after a blood alcohol test showed him with a concentration of .23 percent, nearly three times what is considered to be under the influence.

During a search of Williams’ apartment, police allegedly discovered and seized about 6.2 pounds of suspected marijuana. He was arrested and brought to police headquarters where he agreed to make a statement.

“Lucas advised he did not know anything about the marijuana inside the apartment,” the probable cause document states. “Lucas stated that Elliott had a key to his apartment and stated Elliott must have placed that marijuana inside his apartment at some point in time.”

Police charged Williams with Level 6 felony dealing in marijuana, Level 6 felony maintaining a common nuisance, Class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and Class B misdemeanor visiting a common nuisance.

He was released from the Madison County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.