WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsRhea Co. Teacher's Assistant Arrested on Cocaine Charges

Rhea Co. Teacher's Assistant Arrested on Cocaine Charges

UPDATE NOV 17TH 6 PM

It was on Bailey Avenue where police pulled over Brittany Arnold's SUV. The man driving wasn't wearing a seatbelt, but it was the passenger in the back seat who made officers suspicious.

"He actually was eating the marijuana trying to get rid of it," said LTV Kim Noorbergen with the Chattanooga Police Department, "he was trying to destroy the evidence, thinking the officers couldn't use it against him if he ate it."

Michael Massengill, Arnold, and the driver were all asked to get out of the car. That's when officers say the 24-year-old teacher's assistant began acting nervous.

"One of them observed her trying to conceal something down the front of her pants," said Noorbergen, "they immediately called for a female officer, which is our policy."

According to court documents obtained by Eyewitness News, when the female officer went to search Arnold she admitted she had stuffed crack cocaine down her pants. She told police she purchased the drugs to take to someone in Dayton.

Arnold was holding 13 grams of crack cocaine, with a street value of nearly $700.

Arnold's boyfriend says police got it all wrong.

"I went there to get the drugs," said Floyd Hyatte, "she didn't go there to get the drugs, I'm the one that got them."

Today when we visited Arnold's address Hyatte, the man driving Arnold's car, came to the door. He says he and Arnold are engaged.

With our camera and microphone in plain view, he went on to tell us he told Arnold to put the drugs in her pants.

"If time does get thrown out there, I'd rather do it than her," said Hyatte, "because I know I can do it."

Hyatte went on to say he plans on showing up in court to tell the judge the same story.

"If there's any way I can get in court and say it was mine then that's what I'm going to do," said Hyatte.  

Brittany Arnold is out on bond and due in court on Monday.

Eyewitness News Reporter Callie Starnes spoke with Rhea County Director of Schools Jerry Levengood today by phone, he says Arnold will remain on unpaid leave pending the outcome of Monday's hearing.

MONDAY NOV 16TH

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) - Police tell us a Rhea County teacher's assistant was arrested for possession of crack cocaine for resale.

Police say she was stopped in the 2000 block of Bailey Avenue Sunday around 11:30 p.m. Police found 13 grams of crack cocaine on her. Police say she tried to hide it in her pants.

Police confiscated her car and money.

Police also arrested Michael Arsenal, who police say tried to hide marijuana from police by eating it.