Cocaine, methamphetamine and a violent Wal-Mart shoplifter kept Monroe County law enforcement busy over the weekend.

On Friday, Vonore Police Lt. Robby Lovingood brought an undercover operation to an end when he arrested Desidrio Garcia Pantoja (aka Yayo), 33, Washington Pike, Philadelphia, on a charge of the sell and delivery of cocaine.

Lovingood, who was also assisted by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the ATF, used a confidential informant to purchase the cocaine. Lovingood said the informant didn't have any cocaine on him when he went to make the purchase, was equipped with a recording device and given $5,500 to make the buy.

The informant met Pantoja in the parking lot of an undisclosed location and bought five ounces of cocaine from the suspect. Pantoja was immediately arrested and taken into custody.
The investigation is continuing and others may be charged.

Meth lab found in apartment
On Saturday, Monroe County Sheriff's Drug Officer Conway Mason arrested two men after receiving word they had a meth lab in an apartment on Highway 68 near Madisonville.

When he arrived at the apartment, Billy Roach, 31, gave Mason permission to search the apartment.
Once inside, Mason found Coleman fuel, a gas generator, empty blister packs and a coffee filter containing a white substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Also in the apartment was Scott Edward Cronan, 36, Basin Creek Drive, Taylorsville, N.C., who initially told Deputy Michael Cansler his name was Kevin Crowder, before admitting who he really was.
Both men were charged with possession of methamphetamine and the manufacture of methamphetamine. Cronan was also charged with criminal impersonation.

Shoplifter assaults store employee
And late Saturday night, a Sweetwater man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a Wal-Mart employee and had to be restrained by three customers.

Madisonville Patrolman Craig Summey said he was sent to the store just before 11 p.m. and found John C. Morgan, 33, Forkner's Chapel Road, being held by store security personnel.
Witnesses told Summey that Morgan had been caught shoplifting and had assaulted the employee who tried to stop him. Reportedly, it took three customers to restrain Morgan.

Summey said Morgan was very belligerent toward the employee he'd assaulted and used obscene language.
Summey arrested Morgan for disorderly conduct and said the store would pursue theft and assault charges.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575