On January 6, 2024, officers with the Alexandria Police Department, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, and the Smith County Sheriff's Department received information of drug activity occurring within the city limits of Alexandria. During that time, authorities say they were able to identify Samuel Kameron Vanatta as a suspect.

Vanatta was stopped on Edgewood Street, at the city limits, where K-9 Manci was deployed and alerted to narcotics inside the vehicle. During the stop a small amount of a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine was located along with several needles, fake U.S. currency, and other items consistent with the use of narcotics.

As officers developed more information from the traffic stop, a search of Vanatta's residence on West Main Street was conducted, where officers were able to recover an additional 20 grams of a crystal-like substance (believed to be methamphetamine), two rifles, and a large amount of drug paraphernalia.

Vanatta was arrested and charged with manufacture, delivery, sell, or possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and possessing a firearm during a felony. His bond is set at $62,500 and he will appear in court on February 22.