SIX FROM TENNESSEE ARRESTED AFTER TRAFFIC STOP

CHARLOTTE COUNTY NARCOTICS DETECTIVES ON THURSDAY ARRESTED SIX PEOPLE FROM SWEETWATER, TENNESSEE ON DRUG CHARGES AFTER THEY STOPPED THE TWO VEHICLES THEY WERE DRIVING FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.  DEPUTIES SAY THEY STOPPED A HYUNDAI DRIVEN BY 57 YEAR OLD ELMER CARTER AT US 41 AND STATE ROAD 776 IN MURDOCK, AND THEY FOUND MARIJUANA IN THE VEHICLE.  A FURTHER SEARCH LOCATED NUMEROUS PILL BOTTLES WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CARTER, HIS 52 YEAR OLD WIFE KAREN AND HIS 34 YEAR OLD SON BRIAN.  THEY ALL ADMITTED THEY DRIVE TO FLORIDA EVERY MONTH TO SEE A PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTOR AND DRIVE TO PHARMACIES TO FILL THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS.  THEY SAID IT’S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTORS IN TENNESSEE, AND THEY USUALLY SPEND ABOUT $1500 A MONTH IN DOCTOR’S VISITS AND PAIN MEDS.  A SECOND CAR WAS STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION AND IT WAS DRIVEN BY ANOTHER SON, 32 YEAR OLD STEVEN CARTER.  HE HAD TWO PASSENGERS; 29 YEAR OLD RUSSELL HUTSELL AND 26 YEAR OLD JAMES SMITH.  THEY TOO HAD MARIJUANA IN THEIR VEHICLE ALONG WITH NUMEROUS PILL BOTTLES WITH THURSDAY’S DATE FROM GULF COAST PHARMACY IN PORT CHARLOTTE.  ALL SIX WERE ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES AND WERE TAKEN TO THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.