50 Year old Patricia Diane Barrett of Rushwood Drive has been arrested for "Maintaining a Dwelling" for the use or sale of drugs in Murfreesboro. The arrest came when police went to her home to talk to her about possible drug activity. Evidently, police got a tip from a Federal Parole Officer, according to a police report. Barrett happens to be under a federal release program.

While at the residence, the arresting officer was allowed into the home by Barrett. The officer wrote, "In plain view on the coffee table in front of Ms. Barrett, I observed the top cover to a set of digital scales."

Another officer making a protective sweep of the residence discovered a bag of what appeared to be heroin. It was at that point that Ms. Barrett reportedly granted permission for the officers to fully search the house.

During the search, the other half to the digital scale was located and police say that drugs were on a dollar bill which was on the scale. A second set of scales were also found and police field tested the narcotics. That field test showed 3 ounces of methamphetamine and a half-ounce of heroin.

The search then proceeded to take place in Ms. Barrett's car, which was parked in the driveway. The arrest report showed that the car search took place only after Barrett gave permission.

Inside the car police noted in a report, "Plastic baggies consistent with the narcotics packaging in the residence" were found along with another set of digital scales. However, Barrett claims the drugs found in the home were not hers. The officer wrote, "Under Miranda, Ms. Barrett advised she found the large quantity of narcotics in a kitchen cabinet earlier in the day while getting a bag of chips down." The woman also said that she thought the drugs belonged to unidentified subjects she was renting a room to.

As luck would have it, Barrett said that she was weighing the small amount of heroin for a friend when police knocked on the door.

When police asked to search the woman's cellphone, she allowed it. While only four text messages were found, police say they located "Facebook messages" regarding narcotics sales.

The 50 year old woman was charged with the manufacturing, sale or delivery of a schedule one and two drugs. She was also charged with maintain a dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is expected to be in court on July 26, 2018.

Barrett is currently free after posting an $18,000 bond.

Source:

MPD Arrest 18-10374