Suspected fentanyl found after Hamilton County pursuit, three arrested

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hamilton County police took three people into custody Monday following a police pursuit on McCahill Road, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Police identified the three individuals as Lucas Delvalle, Julius Delvalle and Crystal Phillips. Lucas was driving and the other two were passengers. Police said they all had existing warrants from Hamilton County.

The pursuit began just before 1 a.m. on Mountain Creek Road. Police said two men got into a silver Mercedes, which did not have a license plate. They said the car’s temporary tag was faded and in poor condition.

HCSO said a deputy attempted to stop the car. However, the car slowed down for a moment and then quickly accelerated. They said the car was traveling north on Mountain Creek Road, and turned onto McCahill Road.

Police said the car then cut through a driveway and down several other roads. Then, it entered Dayton Boulevard.

Here, officers said sparks started coming from one of the wheels and the car started to slow down. It came to a stop in the middle of the road.

The sheriff’s office said the three people in the car would not obey verbal commands. Police removed them from the vehicle and took them into custody. While taking them into custody, officers said a green powder filled the air.

The green powder was all over the suspects’ clothes. One of the passengers told the officers that the powder was fentanyl. HCSO then took safety precautions and called EMS to clear all occupants.

Police said they could not thoroughly search the car because its interior was covered in the powder. A gas station cup in the car had a clump of suspected fentanyl on the lid as well, HCSO said.

Deputies secured 1.5 grams of suspected fentanyl. HCSO said they also seized “possible narcotic related pills that are believed to be pressed fentanyl.”

The three suspects were booked into the Hamilton County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office. Police said they were arrested on their existing warrants and original charges.

Lucas Delvalle faces the following charges:

• Violation of probation, possession of controlled substance.
• Controlled substance in schedule 2.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Evading arrest.
• Resisting arrest.
• Registration, improper display of plates.
• Reckless driving.
• Tampering with or fabricating evidence.

Julius Delvalle faces the following charges:

• Controlled substance in schedule 2.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Tampering with or fabricating evidence.

Crystal Phillips faces a charge of theft of property.

The HCSO also said, “the vehicle was towed to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Impound Lot in order to safely search the vehicle.”

The sheriff’s office said they are still investigating the incident.