Monday evening, Campbell County Deputy Dakota Williams had been assisting Officer Crabtree with the Jacksboro Police Department at Walmart with a call when he saw a man who was later identified as Justin Matthew Carden run a stop sign.   Williams stopped the vehicle at Eagle Market and spoke with Carden who said he did not have a valid drivers license. He went on to explain that his license was suspended, and Williams was able to confirm this through a routine check of his license. Williams spoke with the passenger in the vehicle who was identified as Bruce William Weltch. Crabtree asked Weltch if he had anything illegal in the vehicle, according to a report from the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department. Allegedly, both men said that there were some rigs (hypodermic syringes) in the car.

A small pink baggie containing a white crystal-like substance was found in the center console of the vehicle. While Carden was being read his Miranda Rights he said that the substance was not his and he did not have anything else to say. Weltch then said the substance was not his and that someone else had to have placed it in the center console. While Weltch was being placed under arrest, a small clear baggie and a bubble gum wrapper containing Suboxone fell from his shorts.

Carden, age 30, of 667 Allen Ford Road, Rocky Top is charged with driving while suspended, traffic control device and possession of schedule II-controlled substance.  Carden remains housed in the county jail this morning on a $5,000 secured bond.

Weltch, age 26, of 124 Crown Pointe Lane, Jacksboro is charged with possession schedule II-controlled substance and possession schedule III-controlled substance. Weltch has a secured bond of $17,000 set and remains in the Campbell County Jail this morning.   (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/23/2018-6AM)