HCSO and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Joint Investigation

Hamilton County, TN - Yesterday, November 24th, a U.S. Postal employee was arrested while on duty for possession of heroin, methamphetamine and assorted drug paraphernalia.

After a several month investigation, Agents from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Narcotics and Special Operations Division, arrested Gary Lee Thompson (age 50), of Ooltewah, Tn. Thompson was arrested in his postal truck on Tuesday in the parking lot of the Christ United Methodist Church on Brainerd Road, just prior to attempting to inject himself with what agents believed to be heroin.

Authorities with the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General stated, "The vast majority of the 600,000 postal employees nationwide are honest, hard-working individuals who would never engage in such conduct. Special agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) aggressively investigate allegations that involve postal employees putting the safety of the general public at risk, as in this case. The USPS OIG is grateful to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department for working with us to bring this matter to a quick resolution.

To report allegations of postal employee misconduct, contact USPS OIG special agents at 888-USPS-OIG or www.uspsoig.gov."

A search of Thompson’s truck yielded a small amount of heroin and methamphetamine. Thompson was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on various possession charges.