East Tennessee man accused of bringing guns into Walmart

MADISONVILLE, Tenn. — An eastern Tennessee man is accused of bringing guns into a Walmart and being in possession of drugs, authorities said.

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Aaron Joshua Lewis, 41, of Tellico Plains, was charged with two counts of possession of a handgun while under the influence, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.

Police were originally called to a Walmart in Madisonville on Feb. 26 after a report of a possible shoplifter, The Advocate & Democrat of Madisonville reported. Police viewed surveillance video and identified the man as Lewis, who had an outstanding warrant for not appearing in court for a previous charge, according to the newspaper.

Officer Cameron Foister wrote in an arrest affidavit that Lewis, who was stopped at the entrance of the store while trying to exit, was in possession of a .45-caliber handgun on his hip and a .22-caliber weapon in his left jacket pocket, the Advocate & Democrat reported.

A search of Lewis revealed that he had a blue glass pipe with residue in his jacket’s chest pocket, needles in his left pants pocket and a plastic baggie in his right pants pocket, the newspaper reported. The baggies were thought to be meth.

Lewis was booked into the Monroe County Jail on Feb. 27, online records show.

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