PHOTO: James McMurry, 55 of Athens and Grant Taylor, 43 of Albertville were found to be in procession of drugs and handgun. (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

By Staff Reports

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Yesterday, the K-9 Handler Deputy Akins made a traffic stop for a traffic violation on County Road 58 in the New Harmony area. The driver of the vehicle seemed to be under the influence. When asked if any thing illegal was in the vehicle, the occupants indicated there wasn't.

When the K-9 Marianna did an open air search around the vehicle, she signaled that there were narcotics in the vehicle. The DeKalb County Drug and Major Crimes Unit was called to the scene. During the search of the vehicle a glass meth pipe, two containers with a white crystal substance in them, which both field tested positive for methamphetamine, some illegal prescription drugs, and a Glock pistol.

As a result James Russell McMurry, 55 of Athens, and Grant Martin Taylor, 43 of Albertville was arrested and both charged with three counts of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said, “Deputy Akins and K-9 Marianna did exactly what they are trained to do and did a great job on getting these drugs and men off the street.”