Traffic stop leads to drug, weapons charges against city man
Published 4:07 pm Thursday, January 25, 2018
- Dakota Waters
An Elizabethton man faces multiple drug and weapons charges following a traffic stop on Wednesday.
Deputies of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dakota Ted Waters, 25, of 306 East D St., Elizabethton, on Wednesday afternoon and charged him with driving on a revoked license, possession of Schedule II drugs (methamphetamine) for resale, possession of Schedule VI drugs (marijuana), possession of Schedule III drugs (Buprenorphine), possession of Schedule VI drugs (Clonazepam), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
According to police reports, CCSO Investigator Nick Andes was driving on Johnson Avenue on his way to the Sheriff’s Office when he spotted Waters driving a car near the intersection of Johnson Avenue and Sycamore Street.
“I knew that Mr. Waters’ license was revoked and I turned to initiate a traffic stop,” Andes said.
Andes said he turned on his lights and began trying to catch up with Waters’ vehicle when he saw Waters make a sharp left turn into a driveway, so the officer pulled in behind the car. According to Andes, Waters then exited the car and started walking behind a residence.
Andes said he called out for Waters to walk back to him, which he said Waters did. Andes then placed Waters under arrest on a charge of driving on a revoked license.
“While searching Mr. Waters, I found a baggie of marijuana and a marijuana cigarette on his person,” Andes said. “Mr. Waters also had an orange pill bottle filled with 11 Clonazepam and 3-and-a-half Buprenorphine pills, and a set of brass knuckles.”
Andes said he then asked for permission to search the car, which Waters granted. During the search of the car, Andes said he found a glass methamphetamine smoking pipe and a digital scale. In the trunk of the car, Andes said he found a .22 caliber rifle with a scope along with live ammunition rounds. Waters was also in possession of $1,240 in cash according to Andes.
Deputy Christian Carrier searched the area where Andes had observed Waters walking after getting out of the car.
“Deputy Carrier found a black ziplock container with an orange pill bottle containing a quantity of methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag, several smaller clear blue plastic baggies and a glass methamphetamine smoking pipe,” Andes said.
At that time, Andes charged Waters with the drugs and weapons charges. Andes said the $1,240 in cash along with the Chevy Malibu which Waters had been driving were both seized by officers.
According to Andes, this incident was not the first time Waters had been arrested on drug and weapons charges.
“At the time of this arrest, Mr. Waters is on bond for possession of Schedule VI marijuana for resale, possession of Schedule II methamphetamine, possession of a prohibited weapon brass knuckles, driving on a revoked license, and possession of a firearm while committing a dangerous felony,” Andes said.
Records from the Carter County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office show the charges from Waters’ previous arrest mentioned by Andes stem from an incident on May 2, 2017. Waters was released from the Carter County Detention Center after posting a $5,000 bond in that case. Those charges were bound over to a Carter County Grand Jury, which handed down an indictment against him on Jan. 5. Waters is scheduled to make his first appearance in Criminal Court on those charges on Friday, Jan. 26.