ERPD Officer Assists in Arrest of Coonrod

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputies, with an assist from an East Ridge Police officer, made a drug arrest on Monday. 

According to a HCSO press release, on Monday Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detectives, while conducting an investigation, observed an individual making what appeared to be a narcotics transaction.

Narcotics Detectives began to follow the vehicle the suspect was driving and observed him make two traffic violations. HCSO Patrol Deputies in the area also responded and observed the suspect vehicle, a black GMC Tahoe, on Germantown Road. As the patrol deputies followed the car, it was further observed that the tag on the suspect’s vehicle could not be read due to the fact the tag lights were not functioning.

Deputies initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle pulled into the Kanku Gas station located in the 3600 block of Brainerd Road. Deputies approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, later identified as Ricky Coonrod. Coonrod provided deputies with his drivers license, but was not able to provide the vehicle registration or proof of insurance.

HCSO Deputies gave Coonrod a lawful order to exit the vehicle, of which he refused multiple times. After numerous opportunities were given to Coonrod to exit the vehicle and deescalate the situation, he refused to follow the deputies’ lawful commands. At that time, deputies made the decision, after consultation with their supervisor, to use a glass break device to break the driver side window and remove the driver.

Coonrod continued to resist arrest and was removed by deputies from the vehicle. Once out of the vehicle, he continued to resist and was drive-stunned by a taser by an East Ridge Police Officer. Once the taser application was utilized, compliance was achieved and Coonrod was taken into custody without further incident.

A lawful search of Coonrod’s vehicle yielded $1,372 in multiple denominations and a small backpack that contained numerous individually sealed bags of what appeared to be marijuana.

Coonrod was transported to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center where he was booked on the following charges:

• Tag Light Violation (TCA 55-09-0402)
• Resisting Stop, Frisk, Halt, Arrest (TCA 39-16-0602
• Felony Possession of Drugs (Resale) (TCA 39-17-0417)