An anonymous tip led police to a city apartment where investigators discovered two meth labs and arrested twin brothers in connection with the find.
Investigators with the Carter County Sheriff’s Department arrested Terry Hodge, 34, of 137 Gunsmoke Hollow Road, Elizabethton, and his brother Travis Hodge, 34, of 208 Lovers Lane, Elizabethton, on Friday morning and charged each man with two counts of initiation of methamphetamine manufacture and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday, CCSD Investigator Myles Cook went to an apartment on Bluefield Avenue along with Elizabethton Police Department Officer Wayne Pritchard to conduct what Cook called a “knock and talk” at the apartment. The reason for the knock and talk, Cook said, was an anonymous phone tip received saying the resident and guests at the apartment were cooking meth in the apartment that morning.
When officers arrived at the apartment, Cook said he spoke with the resident, Alexa Combs, and told her why he was at her apartment. She invited the officers inside, saying she had no knowledge of any crimes occurring in her apartment.
Once officers were inside, Cook said he observed a female guest, identified as Jessica Vines, and two male guests, who were later identified as Terry Hodge and Travis Hodge.
“I was familiar with Ms. Vines and both Terry and Travis Hodge as users, promoters, sellers and cooks of methamphetamine,” Cook said, adding he then asked Combs for permission to search the apartment and she consented.
While searching the apartment, Cook said he located multiple duffel bags lying in the kitchen floor, which Terry and Travis Hodge claimed ownership of. The bags contained several items which are commonly used to cook methamphetamine, Cook said.
A search of the kitchen turned up additional meth components and a trash bag was found containing two meth “cook bottles” and a used bottle of drain cleaner, Cook said.
The officers asked the two men to empty their pockets, and Cook said both men were found in possession of drug paraphernalia. Police searched the vehicle the two men had brought to the apartment and found additional meth lab components, Cook said.
Terry and Travis Hodge were arrested and transported to the Carter County Detention Center. “All other parties present were released pending further investigation,” Cook said.
The two brothers appeared in General Sessions Court on Monday for an arraignment. Both men were appointed attorneys and their cases reset. Terry Hodge is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12 while his brother, Travis Hodge, is scheduled to appear on Jan. 16.