John N. Owens
Authorities investigating a string of suspicious packages being delivered to an East Chattanooga home on Thursday morning discovered a whopping 2,666 grams of marijuana inside the residence.
John N. "Tony" Owens, 31, was taken into custody at the home at 3711 Grace Ave.
Authorities said the Sheriff's Office, City Police, DEA and U.S. Postal Service had been looking into packages delivered to the residence over the past several months.
On Wednesday a drug-sniffing dog hit on the latest package addressed to the Grace Avenue location. The package was opened after a warrant was obtained and found to contain 7.2 pounds of marijuana.
Authorities, after getting another search warrant, took the package to the house late Thursday morning and found Owens there. They also found a bonanza of drugs along with a 9mm handgun and a magazine with 10 9mm rounds.
The cache of marijuana was still in postal containers as well as in large bags and some in sandwich bags. Five bags of marijuana were in a Nike shoe box. There were also six U.S. Postal labels, four cell phones and 20 blank Green Dot cards.
Before he was taken away, Owens asked for his jacket. As he was handed it, a bag containing nine grams of marijuana fell out.
Owens was charged with possession of marijuana for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.