On Saturday, Oct. 3, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Sergeant C. R. Smith of the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle on the James River Kanawha Turnpike near Rainelle. Upon approaching the vehicle, Sergeant Smith detected an odor resembling marijuana. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Michael Nathan Adkins, 28, of Clayton, GA, and the passenger was identified as Jessica Lipsey, 26, also of Clayton. The two were reportedly husband and wife. Sergeant Smith deployed his K-9 and the dog alerted on the vehicle. A subsequent search of the interior of the automobile revealed a total of 275 pills concealed in different locations within the vehicle. During subsequent interviews both individuals identified the pills as fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance, and acknowledged the intent to sell the pills in Greenbrier County. Both individuals were charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and were arraigned before a Greenbrier County Magistrate. They were incarcerated in the Southern Regional jail in lieu of bond. Sheriff Sloan stated, “I applaud the efforts of Sergeant Smith and all of the involved officers for their diligence and the conscientious manner in which they performed their duties. We have unfortunately witnessed the deadly consequences of the illicit distribution of fentanyl in our state and these pills were destined for individuals in our county. The efforts of these officers will ensure those pills never reach any of our residents.” Sergeant Smith was assisted by a member of the Greenbrier Valley Drugs and Violent Crimes Task Force, members of the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police.
