mtsu student charged with felony possession of marijuana

Sales of illegal drugs and increased violence led the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Unit to charge a suspect with felony sale of marijuana Friday at his Campus Crossing apartment, a supervisor said.

Suspect Derek Steven Jackson, 22, of Memphis, was charged with felony possession of marijuana, said Detective Lt. Jason Mathis. Jackson was charged after detectives found the illegal drug while serving a search warrant at his apartment at 285 N. Rutherford Boulevard. Jackson is an MTSU student.

Detectives recovered from Jackson’s car suspected marijuana and a 9mm Glock firearm with a 31-round magazine, Mathis said. Jars of suspected marijuana were recovered in his apartment.

Indictments are expected from the investigation, the lieutenant said. Some other suspects were cited.

“Due to the increased problems we are having with the sales of drugs and the shootings in our community, we are proactively pursuing these individuals who are selling narcotics and carrying handguns,” Mathis said. “We are communicating with Murfreesboro Police’s Vice Unit. We are working together to combat these problems.”

Murfreesboro Police are investigating the murders of three men whose bodies were found fatally shot May 4, May 16 and May 23 at apartment complexes on Greenland Drive, Lascassas Highway and South Rutherford Boulevard.

Jackson is being booked in at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.