Two arrested in Hartselle bust
Two men were arrested at a Hartselle residence after law enforcement following a two-week investigation.
Derrick Earl Hopper, 27, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Morgan County Jail on a $250,000 bond and is awaiting probation revocation hearing by Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole.
Tristen Scott Murphy, 27, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (clonazepam). His bond was set at $2,500.
Morgan County Drug Task Force agents along with officers from the Alabama Pardon’s and Parole Board served a warrant and conducted a compliance check at to 443 New Center Road in Hartselle Thursday.
Law enforcement received information that the suspect was selling methamphetamine. Agents conducted a two-week investigation and discovered that the suspect was convicted of unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance first in 2010. They believe Hopper was trying to buy cold pills and was in violation of Alabama’s pseudoephedrine law.
Agents went to the residence and discovered Hopper and Tristen Scott Murphy, 27, in the residence along with another male subject who was not arrested at this time. Agents observed a marijuana pipe in plain view and secured a search warrant from Judge Jennifer Howell for the residence. During the search, agents discovered almost an ounce of methamphetamine (Ice) along with drug sale paraphernalia. Mr. Murphy had several controlled substance pills in his possession also. The Ice that was found had a street value of $2,200.00 During the search, several potential customers arrived and were detained. They were later released after no drugs were found in their possession.