Trending

Overflowing toilet at Tennessee apartment leads to arrest of 3 on drug charges

MADISONVILLE, Tenn. — An overflowing toilet at an east Tennessee apartment led to the arrest of three people on drug charges, authorities said.

>> Read more trending news

Jody Dean Townson, 50, of Madisonville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine for resale and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Madisonville Police Department. Belinda Eileen Adams, 57, of Loudon, was charged with possession of methamphetamine; and Belinda Lynn Burton, 50, of Loudon, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Madisonville police Detective Thomas Spradlin said he and other officers went to the apartment on Aug. 31, The Advocate & Democrat of Madisonville reported.

The officers had a search warrant on suspicion of drug possession and found Townson, Adams and Burton in the apartment, the newspaper reported. Officers also noticed a toilet was overflowing into the living room, according to The Advocate & Democrat.

The officers detained the women, went into the bathroom and found a plastic bag that someone had attempted to flush down the toilet, according to an arrest affidavit.

The bag contained eight corner-cut baggies that allegedly contained a crystal-like substance that appeared to be meth, The Advocate & Democrat reported.

According to police, Townson claimed ownership of the baggies, and a further search of his apartment revealed more plastic baggies and two sets of digital scales, the newspaper reported.

Spradlin said the meth weighed 38 grams.

According to The Advocate & Democrat, a search of Burton’s purse revealed 3 grams of meth, while officers said they discovered meth in an Altoids container in Adams’ purse.

Officers arrested the trio.