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The alertness of an Upson County Sheriff’s Deputy led to the seizure of up to $38,000 in drugs and the arrest of one suspect on March 21.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Mario Cromer was on patrol about 1:30 a.m. on March 21 when he noticed a vehicle parked near the drink machines at Community Superette on Jeff Davis Road. When he stopped to investigate, he found the driver, later identified as Kris Hunt, 33, of Thomaston, slumped in the vehicle as if he were asleep. Sgt. James Hollis arrived to assist Cromer, and they were able to get Hunt to respond.

While talking to Hunt, Dep. Cromer noticed a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine lying in plain view on the front seat of the vehicle. Hunt was removed from the vehicle and a search was conducted. Deputies located a bag containin11 grams of crystallized methamphetamine, digital scales, a small amount of marijuana, cash, and 1,874 Hydrocodone tablets in the car. The Hydrocodone was packed in five different commercial/bulk bottles that are sold to pharmacies. On the street, methamphetamine is valued at $110 a gram, and Hydrocodone is valued between $5 and $20 a tablet.

Hunt was placed under arrest and taken to the Upson County Jail, where he was booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule 3 narcotics with intent to distribute, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, and possession of prescription drugs not in their original containers.

Griffin police investigators have also come down to the jail to question Hunt about the burglary of a pharmacy in Griffin last week.

“I commend Deputy Cromer for his actions in this case,” said Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore. “His alertness led to the arrest of a repeat offender and helped remove a significant amount of drugs from the streets of Upson County.”