Rutherford County, TN — K9 Deputy Aaron Price and his K9 partner, Hector, have been recognized as Officers of the Month for August after their teamwork led to the discovery of methamphetamine and marijuana during a traffic stop. The duo are part of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. 

On August 11, 2025, Deputy Price stopped a driver for traffic violations along Halls Hill Pike, according to K9 Lt. J.D. Davis. The driver, a convicted felon with prior drug charges, was questioned during the stop.

K9 Hector conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the presence of drugs near the front of the car. A search revealed a metal magnetic case concealed inside the vehicle’s frame.

“Inside the case was nine grams of meth,” Davis said. Price also recovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Lt. Davis credited Hector’s precision, explaining, “K9 Hector did as he was trained and pinpointed the exact location and source of the odor. It is likely that the hidden container would not have been located if it had not been for K9 Hector.”

The driver now faces charges of felony manufacturing, sale, delivery, or possession of methamphetamine, as well as possession of marijuana.

Deputy Price and K9 Hector’s efforts not only led to the arrest but also highlighted the vital role of law enforcement K9s in keeping Rutherford County safe.