TWRA and Blount County Sheriff's Office united last weekend in an operation that netted three arrests and confiscation of a firearm and drugs on two State Access Areas in Blount County.
In response to multiple complaints and calls from concerned citizens and sportsmen and sportswomen, TWRA Wildlife Officers and the Blount County Sheriff's office conducted an operation concentrating on Perry's Mill Access Area in Walland and Lowe's Ferry Access Area in Louisville, Tn. The goal of the operations was to rid these areas of drugs and criminal activity thus making them safe for the general public, sportsmen and sportswomen, and boaters of Tennessee.
The effort was an overwhelming success resulting in several individuals charged with multiple violations:
-Oscar L. Cueno III, 22, of Maryville was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm while intoxicated, public intoxication, possession of alcohol on a state access area, simple possession of schedule VI narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of drugs on a state access area.
-Joseph E. Breedlove, 37, of Maryville, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, violation of implied consent, criminal littering, and alcohol use on a state access area.
-Rebecca T. Osinski, 18, of Maryville, was arrested and charged with simple possession of schedule VI narcotics, underage possession of alcohol, and alcohol use on a state access area.
-Conner D. Ryding, 21, of Maryville, was charged with possession of alcohol on a state access area and simple possession of schedule VI narcotics.
-William J. Slaughter II, 23, of Maryville, was charged with simple possession of schedule VI narcotics.
-Storm M. Owens, 18, of Kodak, was charged with underage consumption of alcohol, and alcohol use on a state access area.
-Nichols C. Fredrick II, 38, of Knoxville, was charged with simple possession of schedule VI narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, alcohol use on a state access area, and criminal littering.
-Timothy J. McConkey, age 50 of Knoxville, was charged with Simple Possession of Schedule VI Narcotics.
While court dates vary, most defendants charged in connection with this detail are scheduled to appear in Blount Co. General Sessions Court on Oct. 30, at 9 a.m.
Blount County Wildlife Officer Jeff Pearce, who had a major role in coordinating and implementing this detail said, “These access areas are paid for and maintained by boater’s and sportsmen's dollars from the state of Tennessee. Wildlife Officers and the Blount County Sheriff's Office will continue increased patrols of Access Areas with a zero tolerance policy.” TWRA Region IV LE Major Brian Ripley, who oversees law enforcement operations in east Tennessee, said, “Behavior contrary to the rules governing the use of our access areas has to be addressed, especially when that behavior discourages our legitimate users.”