Three arrested on drug charges

By Abby Morris
Star Staff
amorris@starhq.com

   Three people were arrested Monday evening and charged with drug-related offenses after a store employee noticed two women making several purchases within a short period of time.
   Danny Blaine Stout, 53, 346 Mae Tester Lane, Mountain City, was arrested and charged with possession of Schedule II narcotics for resale and felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
   Sherry Darnell Grindstaff, 51, 346 Mae Tester Lane, Mountain City, was arrested and charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
   Carolyn Sue Stout, 49, 1226 Martin Creek, Erwin, was arrested and charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
   According to reports, shortly before 7 p.m., agents of the First Judicial District Drug Task Force along with officers of the Elizabethton Police Department responded to Wal-Mart on a report of possible drug-related activity.
   Loss Prevention officers at Wal-Mart contacted agents of the DTF who in turn contacted the EPD. "A Loss Prevention officer told the agent that he observed two females come into the store and purchase three boxes of Equate Antihistabs," states EPD Sgt. Matt Bailey in his report on the incident. "According to Loss Prevention, the females left the store and placed the items in a red Ford Explorer.
   "Loss Prevention further advised that he had witnessed them do this on two separate occasions."
   When DTF agents and EPD officers arrived, they were able to locate the car identified as the suspect vehicle by Loss Prevention employees.
   The law enforcement officers approached the car and located Danny Stout in the driver's seat and Grindstaff and Carolyn Stout in the vehicle as passengers. Police then explained to Danny Stout why they had been called to the scene.
   "He gave consent for officers to search the rear of his vehicle where several Wal-Mart bags were lying," states Bailey in his report. "Officers located 27 boxes of Equate Antihistabs (a precursor used in the manufacturing methamphetamine), along with nine Wal-Mart cash register receipts."
   "All of the receipts were dated with today's date, and indicated the purchase of the Antihistabs. The receipts also revealed that they were purchased over a period of approximately one and a half hours."
   At that time, all three subjects were taken into custody and charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
   During an inventory of Danny Stout's vehicle prior to it being towed, officers discovered a prescription bottle under the driver's seat of the vehicle which contained four individually wrapped bags containing approximately 4.9 grams of methamphetamine. At that time, Danny Stout was charged with possession of a Schedule II narcotic for resale.
   During a search of Carolyn Stout's purse, officers found more than $1,950 in cash.
   Officers told Danny Stout that his vehicle was subject to seizure and Carolyn Stout that the money located in her purse was also subject to seizure.
   During a search of Grindstaff's purse, officers discovered an empty box of Antihistabs. Grindstaff advised officers that she was purchasing the Antihistabs for Danny Stout and she had taken the box with her into the store so she would know what to purchase.
   All three subjects are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on June 1.