Spangler has charges dismissed on technicality
Charges against former McMinnville narcotics officer Robert Spangler have been dropped in Smithville due to a faulty search warrant which led to his arrest there last month.
However, the veteran lawman still faces methamphetamine manufacture charges in McMinnville for his arrest last year on meth charges. He will face trial on the local charges at a later date.
According to DeKalb County Sheriff Lloyd Emmons, the DeKalb County charges were dropped due to a technicality in the search of warrant for a secluded cabin located near Dowelltown. Spangler was allegedly caught there last month along with co-defendants Jody Lynn Jennings, 30, of McMinnville and Melisha Martin, 30, of Dowelltown. A lab was reportedly found at the residence during a raid. Jennings and Martin still face charges as result of the raid.
While the charges have been dismissed, Emmons said he will confer with the district attorney to see what can be done about possibly pursuing a case against Spangler in DeKalb County.
Spangler’s arrest in DeKalb County came while he was free on bond, awaiting trial here for a meth lab which was found on his property on Martin Street. Police say Spangler and an employee in his construction firm were running a lab at the Martin Street address. Spangler maintains, although he owned the property, he did not live there and had nothing to do with the lab.
Spangler served 15 years in law enforcement prior to his arrest last year. He had been working at Bridgestone and owned a private construction business immediately before his arrest. During his law enforcement career, most of which was spent with McMinnville Police Department, he had served as a narcotics investigator, overseeing numerous drug operations.
Local authorities say the dismissal of charges in Smithville will not impact their case here against the former officer. In addition to local charges, a decision is being made as to whether federal charges will be sought against Spangler.