By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE -  In two separate parking lot drug busts last week authorities arrested five people on a variety of drug related charges and seized two vehicles.
    Authorities charged Maggie Rebekah Slater, 19, 1051 McKinney Chapel Road, Rogersville, and Rusty Allan Crabtree, 20, 137 Terrace View Drive, Rogersville, with possession of schedule II drugs with intent to deliver or sell and tampering with evidence as result of a "controlled drug buy" at Food City parking lot April 30.
    On April 28, three individuals were charged as the result of a drug bust in the Hardee's parking lot.
    Shannon Carter Keasling, 22, 165 Stewart Hills Drive, Rogersville, was charged with possession of schedule II (Oxycontin) and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Mandy Jane Collins, 23, 1007 West Main Street, Rogersville, was charged with possession of schedule II for resale (Oxycontin), possession of schedule III (Suboxone), possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Dustin Ryan "Duck" Bradley, 23, 405 Market Street, Rogersville, was charged with possession of schedule II for resale (Oxycontin), possession of schedule III (Suboxone), introduction of drugs into a penal facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.
    The April 30 arrests were based on information officers with the Hawkins County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Unit received during the month alleging "Slater was in the illegal narcotics trade."
    Officers obtained her cell phone number and on April 30 at 11:30 a.m. a text message was sent to the woman, who reportedly sent messages back "advising that she had different milligrams of Oxycodone throughout the day."
    "On this date (April 30) at approximately 7:43 p.m. she sent a text message advising that she had ten Oxycodone 15 mg," Slater's arrest report states.
    Officers with the Narcotics Unit reportedly arranged a meeting with Slater at the Food City parking lot. 
    Slater and Crabtree, identified as her boyfriend, were located and Slater reportedly told officers "she had sold pills to people earlier in the day, but there were no illegal narcotics in her vehicle."
    During a search officers recovered eight tablets from a glass of tea, although the tablets were recovered they could not be identified.
    During questioning Slater reportedly gave a written statement indicating g she had obtained 13 pills she believed to be Oxycodone "by means other than a prescription." She said she had sold two for $30 at the city park, according to authorities.
    Slater said she threw the pills in the tea after Crabtree observed the officers pulling into the parking lot.  The pills were sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab for analysis and a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier was sized.
    On April 28 officers with the Narcotics Unit received information from a "confidential and reliable informant" stating occupants of a silver Pontiac Aztec parked in the Hardee's parking lot were in possession of and selling Oxycontin pills.
    Within 10 minutes of receiving the tip, officers with the Narcotics Unit and the Third Judicial District Task Force were on the scene and approached the vehicle, reportedly occupied by three individuals.
    Keasling, identified as the driver, "did state that his passengers had completed at least one narcotics transaction just minutes prior from his vehicle," according to the narrative of his arrest report. He also reportedly advised officers he had an Oxycontin 80 mg pill in his possession which had been broken in half.
    The driver also consented to a search of his vehicle an a "cut straw" was found inside which, according to the report, appeared to have been used to "snort pills."
    Collins, was a passenger in the vehicle and while speaking to her officers noticed four Oxycontin 80 mg pills at her feet. During questioning the woman reportedly told officers she was holding them but threw them down when the officers pulled. The woman also said she "was fixing to give or sell one of the pills to another individual when officers pulled up," according to her arrest report.
    Following a search of Collins' purse officers reported finding a baggie of less than one-half ounce of marijuana, a partial Suboxone pill and a pill cutter.
    As Bradley was being booked at the Hawkins County Jail authorities reported finding a "key chain type pill holder located between Mr. Bradley's buttocks" during a search. According to Bradley's arrest report, the pill holder contained three Oxycontin 80 mg pills as well as a partial Suboxone pill.
    The 2004 Pontiac Aztec, described as having assorted dents and scratches, was seized.
    Keasling, Collins and Bradley are scheduled to be arraigned in Hawkins County General Sessions Court May 11. Slater is scheduled to appear on May 13 and Crabtree on May 18,