May 19, 2013
A Local 8 Weather Alert has been issued for today. Because of the threat of rain, thunder and even hail, outdoor activities may be disrupted or inconvenienced. What's going on? An upper-level low will be moving across East Tennessee today, creating a more unstable atmosphere.
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT)- Already in 2011, 4 people in Morristown overdosed and died.
That's why police set out to arrest dozens on Thursday.
Volunteer TV's Lauren Davis went along as officers scoured neighborhoods looking for users and dealers.
Handcuffed and booked.
Not how this woman expected to spend her thursday night.
Or this man.
Chief Roger Overholt says, ":27 this is probably largest type of operation we've done as far as the number of individuals that are involved."
It's called "Operation Deadly Dose".
A county wide roundup after 153 people o-ded in 3 years abusing painkillers.
Of those, 18 died.
It used to be cocaine, marijuana, and meth.
Chief Roger Overholt says, "1:10 but we're not seeing those drugs as readily available as we are the prescription drugs on our street.'
Officers went house to house in bullet proof vests, hunting more than 45 known drug users.
Once they're arrested, the chief says they still don't' think they've done anything wrong.
Chief Roger Overholt says, "1:56 the most common statement we hear is we don't take anything other than what my doctor prescribed.'
But even though they are legal, these drugs still kill.
And that's why Morristown PD wants these suspects and the drugs off the streets.
Of those 18 overdose deaths in morristown, one was a 13 year old juvenile male.
