MURFREESBORO – Two local men were arrested here last week in separate drug cases.

Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe reported the first arrest occurred shortly before 4 p.m. on June 15. At that time, 60-year-old Donald Deloatch of Lewistown Road, Murfreesboro, was taken into custody on a charge of possession of crack cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $6,000 secured bond.

Deloatch’s arrest came after Murfreesboro Police Officer Tyrone Ruffin observed what he believed to be a narcotic sale and purchase take place in the area of Speedway on Main Street. Rowe said that Ruffin approached Deloatch and told him what he had observed.

“Mr. Deloatch admitted to Officer Ruffin that he had purchased the narcotics,” Rowe stated. “Officer Ruffin searched Mr. Deloatch, finding an amount of crack cocaine on his person.”

Rowe added that MPD K-9 Officer Bryan Johnson and MPD Captain Chris Sumner assisted in the arrest.

Johnson later performed a traffic stop on the driver of the vehicle that was alleged to have been involved in the sale of the narcotics to Deloatch. Rowe said no drugs were located in that vehicle.

The second drug arrest stemmed from a traffic stop made by MPD Officer Harrison Revelle shortly after 2 p.m. on June 21. Rowe said that Revelle stopped the vehicle, in the area of the Wilco Hess station at Spring Ave. and Main Street, due to what he termed as, “multiple offenses.” The driver of that vehicle was 29-year-old Derrick L. Lee of Antler Drive, Murfreesboro.

“As Officer Revelle was returning to his vehicle to issue citations against Mr. Lee for driving without an operator’s license and displaying a fictitious license plate, Officer Johnson arrived on the scene for back up,” Rowe stated. “Officer Johnson began to pat down the driver, discovering a large bag of marijuana as well as cash.

“At that time, Officer Revelle was exiting his patrol vehicle and was walking back towards Mr. Lee and Officer Johnson at which time Mr. Lee snatched away from Officer Johnson and ran from the scene,” Rowe continued. “A foot chase ensued, and Officer Revelle was able to overtake and bring down Mr. Lee after a short distance was covered on foot.”

Rowe added that Harrison slightly injured his shoulder while bringing down Lee.

Lee stands charged with one felony count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and maintaining a vehicle for the use of storing a controlled substance. He was additionally charged with one misdemeanor count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting a public officer, as well as the two traffic violations.

Lee was jailed under a $15,000 secured bond.

“These two arrests are great examples of proactive police work,” Rowe remarked. “These officers were not waiting around for something to happen; instead they took to the streets on patrol in our effort to always protect the public.

“It’s proactive work such as this that helps keep the crime rate down in Murfreesboro. Their actions on these recent arrests are a credit to them as quality police officers and to our department. I commend them on a job well done,” Rowe concluded.