The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:22 PM

Two Mountain City Police Officers Behind Bars For Allegedly Distributing Illegal Drugs In School Zone

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (SOURCE: WVLT) -- Two Mountain City police officers are now behind bars after allegedly distributing illegal drugs in a school zone.

Agents with TBI's drug investigation division began investigating the officers at the request of 1st District Attorney General Tony Clark in August. Mountain City Police Lt. Ronald Glen Shupe, 44, and Sgt. Elmer Kenneth Lane, 61, were believed to be involved in drug use and distribution. Investigators said they found Shupe and Lane were doing this both on and off duty, with some transactions even occurring in school zones.

On Nov. 6, TBI partnered with the FBI and the Tennessee Highway Patrol to detain Shupe while on duty. He allegedly was in possession of Oxycodone pills, and he was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail. Lane was taken into custody Thursday, and is currently awaiting trial in the Johnson County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

Both Shupe and Lane have been charged with conspiracy to possess schedule II drugs with intent to deliver in a school zone and simple possession of schedule II drugs.

Shupe was also charged with of possession of schedule II drugs with intent to deliver in a school zone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, three counts of official misconduct, solicitation to commit assault, accessory after the fact, release of confidential information, casual exchange of schedule VI drugs, and theft of property valued at $1,000 or less.

Lane faces an addition charge of solicitation to commit the delivery of schedule II drugs.