CHURCH HILL (WATE) - Two Hawkins County women were arrested Tuesday night after officials interrupted a prescription pill drug deal at a local hospital.
The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office said narcotics officers suspected Loritta Defreece, 31, of Church Hill, would be picking up prescription drugs at a storage unit she rented to later sell.
Officials followed Defreece and observed her picking up the pills from her storage unit, driving to Welmont Hawkins County Memorial Hospital and then meeting a female worker to exchange the drugs.
While the two women were talking, officers approached them.
The hospital worker, 45-year-old Joyce Presley, had an over-the-counter medicine bottle with 30 Lortab pills inside. Officials determined that Defreece was selling the pills to Presley for $7.00 per pill.
After searched Defreece's storage unit, officials also found another 13 Lortab pills and $300 in cash.
Both women were charged and taken to Hawkins County Jail. On Wednesday night, Defreece was still in jail on a $10,000 bond. Presley was released on a $500 bond.
Loritta Defreece (Source: Hawkins County Sheriff's Office)
Joyce Presley (Source: Hawkins County Sheriff's Office)
