Pair suspected of dealing meth arrested

A Georgia pair suspected of distributing methamphetamine here was arrested Friday by city and county law enforcement authorities. 

An off-duty deputy sheriff observed what he believed to be a large drug transaction at about 5 p.m. Soon afterward, Philadelphia Police executed a traffic stop on the vehicle, Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said.

The investigation led officers back to Room 130 at the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, 530 Highway 16 west. 

Officers obtained a search warrant and seized more than a pound of methamphetamine, about ½ pound of marijuana, $36,400 in cash, and a 2019 Ford F450 pickup truck.  

Arrested were Jermie A. Tank, 245 Gatewood Drive, Cobert, Ga., and Angela G. Bryan, 1225 North Forest Avenue, Hartwell, Ga., Clark said in a release.

Both were charged with aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.  

If convicted, they face penalties of not less than 25 years without eligibility for parole and fines ranging from $5,000 to $1 million. 

Tank and Bryan are being held in the Neshoba County Detention Center, awaiting an initial court appearance.  More charges are expected from this investigation, officials said.

  If you have any information on criminal activity in the Philadelphia-Neshoba County area, call (601) 656-1414 or East Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 1-855-485-8477.