Former commissioner arrested
By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
Law enforcement officials took a former Franklin County Commissioner into custody Wednesday morning, ending a six-day search for him.
Curtis Odell Bragwell, 54, of 4110 Highway 41 in Russellville, turned himself in to investigators at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, accompanied by his attorney, Tim Case. Bragwell was charged with distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), Sheriff Larry Plott said.
"He turned himself in because he said he was tired of running," Plott said.
Investigators had been searching for Bragwell since March 15, when a search warrant was executed at his residence. Law enforcement officials made two arrests at the residence in connection with this case, Plott added.
Bobbie Rae Lindsey, 27, and Theresa Lynn Borden, 39, were both taken into custody on March 15. Lindsey was charged with distribution of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Borden was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
During their search for Bragwell, investigators seized a 2002 Peterbilt 18-wheeler owned by Bragwell Tuesday, and arrested driver Thomas Earl Pounders, 44, of 121 Oliver Drive, in Phil Campbell, and charged him with possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, Plott said.
"We found 2 and a half grams of meth and a glass pipe on Mr. Pounders and in the truck," Plott said.
Pounders and Borden have been released on bail. However, Bragwell and Lindsey were denied bail and remain in the Franklin County Jail.