Jeremy Jason Brown	Kelly Scott Stewart

Occupants of a local company’s service truck were surprised after they tried to instigate a race with an Early Police officer in an unmarked car and ended up arrested on drug charges.

According to Early Chief of Police David Mercer, the incident occurred around 9:30am on Wednesday, February 29th when the truck pulled up beside Sgt. Dibrell’s unmarked car on Early Blvd and its occupants began making gestures and throwing up their arms, then the driver began “gunning” the vehicle’s engine as if to instigate a race.  Sgt. Dibrell stopped the vehicle in the 5500 block of Hwy 377 east where the driver insisted that they thought Sgt. Dibrell was someone else, Mercer said.

Chief Mercer stated that Sgt. Dibrell questioned the occupants, who were acting extremely nervous, if they had any drugs and all denied having any drugs, however denied officers consent to search the vehicle.  Early Police Department’s K9 officer Amanda Williams was requested and responded to the traffic stop where the K9, Tessa, alerted to the cab of the vehicle as she walked around the truck.  Officers then searched the truck and located marijuana, methamphetamine and hydrocodone pills according to Mercer.

33-year-old Jeremy Jason Brown of Early, the driver of the vehicle, and 33-year-old  Scott Kelly Stewart of Brownwood, one of the passengers, admitted ownership of the drugs said Mercer. The investigation is continuing to the involvement of the 3rd individual.   Brown and Kelly were both arrested and taken to the Brown County Jail.

Stewart was charged with Tampering with Evidence; Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1 Less than 1 gram; Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 3 Less than 28 grams; and Possession of Marijuana Less than 2 ounces. 

Brown was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1 Less than 1 gram in a Drug Free Zone; Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence; Manufacture Delivery of a  Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1 Less than 1 gram; Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 3 Less than 28 grams in a Drug Free Zone; Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 3 Less than 28 grams; Delivery of Marijuana Less than or Equal to ¼ gram; and Possession of Marijuana Less than 2 ounces in a Drug Free Zone. 

Both remained at the Brown County Jail as of Thursday morning.