Pickens Police arrest Easley couple in drug trafficking

An Easley couple was arrested last week and charged with drug trafficking within a half-mile radius of a school, Lieutenant Matt Ward, of the Pickens Police Department, said.

Jason Jerome Welborn, 28, of 205 Jameston Road, and Melinda Sue Vernon Cuddy, 33, of 107 Lockwood Avenue, both face multiple counts of drug charges including trafficking cocaine and methamphetamines, possession with intent to distribute near a school, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and shoplifting, Ward said.

According to police incident reports, the couple entered the Hampton Avenue Auto Zone, in Pickens, on November 1 where an employee of the business observed a male hand a packaged item to the female, after which he purchased another item. When the couple left the store, the employee found the empty package, with the item, a 14 in 1 hand tool, missing. The employee then wrote down the license plate number of the couple's vehicle, along with the car's description, before notifying law enforcement.

Patrol Officer Brandon Durham saw that vehicle in the parking lot of Advanced Auto Parts, on Gentry Memorial Highway. A woman, fitting the description of the earlier suspect, was sitting in the car. The male suspect was already in that business, reports said.

When Ward arrived to assist Durham, the officers identified both Welborn and Vernon and received their permission to search the vehicle.

The tool, valued at less than nine dollars, was located beneath the front passenger seat, the report said.

Vernon was placed under arrest for shoplifting. Welborn was also arrested on three outstanding bench warrants being held at the police department, Ward said.

Ward and Durham was conducting a written inventory of the vehicle prior to its being towed when they found two canvas bags containing various illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be more than $2000, Ward said.

Assistant Chief Rodney Greggory said that outstanding police work led to the arrest.

"These officers did an excellent job and because of it, a misdemeanor case became a felony," he said "It is always good to get drugs off our streets."

Police Chief Tommy Ellenburg said he is proud of the work his department is doing toward keeping Pickens a safe city in which to live and work.

"This case started as a shoplifting that turned into a major drug bust," he said. "Officer Durham and Lieutenant Ward did excellent police work in removing a large amount of drugs from our streets and arresting those responsible."