Report: Guns, meth seized after routine speeding traffic stop

GRANDVIEW — A Rhea County man was arrested on Thursday, June 20, for multiple offenses including drug and narcotic possession as well as weapon law violations after a routine traffic stop for speeding.

According to the arrest report on file at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), Christopher Garrison was involved in a traffic stop conducted by RCSD Deputy Todd Deleonardis.

According to Deleonardis, he was running radar on Jewett Road in Grandview due to numerous complaints of speeders on the roadway. After witnessing a vehicle speeding and making a traffic stop, Deleonardis said he saw a red Mustang drive past at a speed he believed to be greater than the posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour.

Upon observing this, Deleonardis said he attempted to pursue the vehicle and was able to do so until the red Mustang turned off onto the driveway of Jewett Road home. He said that when he approached the parked vehicle, he was able to determine that there were no occupants inside.

While starting toward the residence, a male identified as Christopher Garrison came out from behind a chicken coop, the deputy said. A further check of the residence revealed a gun, pill bottle, pouch of gummy mushrooms and a blue pouch. Inside the blue pouch was a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine, the report states.

Furthermore, Deleonardis said two more handguns were found on the front porch which Garrison identified as his. Garrison stated that he pulled into the residence and hid the items because he had not had a good experience with law enforcement in the past, the report states, and a search of his person revealed $2,895 in his wallet.

Garrison was then taken into custody and transported to the Rhea County Jail. The money and vehicle were seized, and the vehicle was taken to the Rhea County impound lot. The three firearms were entered into evidence and the drugs were logged into evidence and sent to the TBI Lab for testing.