Bedford County Sheriff Deputy K9 “Ranger” Sniffs Out Another Drug Suspect 

By Bo Gill

On March 21, 2024, Bedford County Deputy Sheriff Tylar Prosser noticed a white Honda Accord with an illegal limit of window tint on the vehicle as it passed by his position sitting at Newton Ford dealership on Highway 231 N.

Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputy Prosser could detect the odor of marijuana coming from inside. The deputy used a window tint card by the Department of Transportation on the passenger side window of the vehicle, and it was confirmed to be darker than the legal limit. 

The deputy advised the driver, Thomas Mitchell, 52, College Street, Normandy, Tn., that he would be giving him a warning citation for the tint violation and asked him to step out of the vehicle while he wrote the warning, to which Mr. Mitchell agreed.

While speaking with Mr. Mitchell, the deputy asked him about the odor of marijuana, and Mr. Mitchell stated that there should not be anything “illegal” in the car that he knew of. Deputy Prosser asked Mr. Mitchell for consent to search the car, even though there was an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, and he stated he would rather the deputy not search the vehicle but he did not mind if he ran the dog (K9 Ranger) around the car.

It was at this point that Deputy Prosser and K9 Ranger conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle. K9 Ranger did alert to the odor of narcotics on the driver's side of the vehicle at the driver door, giving a final indication of a sit.

Upon conducting a probable cause search of the vehicle, a pipe used for smoking marijuana and a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine were located in the center console of the vehicle. While conducting a search incident to arrest Mr. Mitchell, he was being very evasive and kept moving around as the deputy started to search him. At this point, Mr. Mitchell did state that he wanted to be honest with the deputy, and he retrieved a small baggie of methamphetamine out of his front pocket.

It was at this point that Mr. Mitchell was placed under arrest for Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Simple) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mr. Mitchell was transported to the Bedford County Jail and given a $4,500 bond and a court date of 04/24/2024.