South Precinct Detective Garry Gann’s alert stop of an SUV Wednesday afternoon for failures to yield and use a turn signal led to the arrest of a convicted killer on gun and drug charges.
Gann stopped the 1993 GMC Yukon in the 4500 block of Nolensville Pike just after 4:30 p.m. The license of the driver, Jerry Rubin Ellis, Jr., 36, of Greenbrier, had been revoked. Ellis, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 1993 and aggravated assault in 1997, consented to Gann’s search of the vehicle’s interior. Concealed in a center console underneath the cup holders were two separate baggies of marijuana weighing nearly 15 grams, a .25 caliber pistol loaded with five rounds, a digital scale, and an empty baggie containing cocaine residue.
Both Ellis and his passenger, parolee Lindell Ronald Graves, 37, of Madison, initially denied ownership of the gun and marijuana. However, during questioning downtown, which was attended by a federal ATF agent, Ellis admitted that the gun and drugs were his. Ellis said at the time Detective Gann stopped him, he was on his way to pick up one-half ounce of cocaine which he intended to resell.
“Detective Gann’s decision to stop the SUV for what some would consider minor traffic violations enabled this police department to interdict drug crimes by two ex-convicts and get a loaded firearm out of their reach,” Chief Ronal Serpas said. “Ex-cons, drugs and a gun are a very dangerous combination.”
Ellis is charged with firearm possession by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a revoked license, and driving with an open can of beer.
Graves, who has a history of felony drug and assault convictions, is charged with introducing contraband into a penal facility. Marijuana weighing four grams was discovered concealed in his groin area after he arrived at the booking room. Graves is also charged with evidence tampering, possession of drug paraphernalia, and marijuana possession.
Federal firearms charges in this case are being considered.
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