Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Press Release:
On July 6, 2026, Deputy Bryan conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 40 Eastbound on after observing a White Chevrolet Traverse commit two traffic violations.
As Deputy Bryan made contact with the occupants, he observed three adult passengers and a 5-year-old child inside the vehicle. The child, whose mother was driving, was not properly secured in an appropriate car seat. Due to the number of occupants and improper seating arrangements, all occupants were asked to exit the vehicle.
During the investigation, Deputies determined that two of the occupants were suspects in a 3-month-long narcotics investigation being conducted by the Overton County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Deputies located a broken glass pipe in one passenger’s pocket, and two additional occupants were found to also be in possession of drug paraphernalia.
K9 Deputy Reed deployed K9 Tuco to conduct a free-air sniff round the vehicle. K9 Tuco gave a positive alert to the odor of illegal narcotics.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 40.8 grams of Methamphetamine, approximately 8.4 grams of fentanyl, and approximately 3.5 grams of an unknown powdery substance.
All four occupants were taken into custody. A family member responded to the scene to retrieve the child.
Sheriff Farris said, “Drug trafficking doesn’t stop at county lines, and neither does our commitment to stopping it. By closely working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Overton County Sheriff’s Office, we were able to remove a significant amount of illegal narcotics off our streets. These partnerships make all of our communities safer.”
Kirsten Murdock, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested and charged with Manufacture, Delivery, Sell of Fentanyl, Manufacture, Delivery, Sell of Methamphetamine, Child Abuse, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She has a court date of August 10, 2026 and a bond set at $153,000.
Corey Howard was arrested and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He has a court date of August 10, 2026, and a bond set at $2,300.
Tazha Sidwell was arrested and upon intake at the Putnam County Jail it was discovered she was concealing fentanyl in a body cavity. She was charged with Manufacture, Delivery, Sell of Fentanyl, Tampering with Evidence, Introduction of Contraband into a Jail Facility, andPossession of Drug Paraphernalia. Sidwell has a court date of August 10, 2026, and a bond set at $127,300.
Christopher Walker was arrested and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and 2 outstanding Violation of Probation warrants. He has a court date of August 10, 2026, and a bond set at $2,300 and a hold without for his Violation of Probation.