West was found unresponsive in his jail cell May 27, according to Anderson. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital. West’s body has been sent for an autopsy. Preliminary information indicates that foul play was not involved, according to Anderson s statement issued Thursday.
In November 2018, West was among more than three dozen suspected drug dealers arrested in a targeted law enforcement sweep. The multi-agency sweep followed an undercover operation that focused on heroin and opioid-related drugs among others.
âTaking all into consideration it is my opinion that the proposed resolution is not in violation of state statutes,â he said.
The county had correspondence from the Office of Open Records Counsel in January about the proposal, which also seemed to indicate they couldnât go beyond the Schedule of Reasonable Charges.
âA local government office can charge fees that exceed the charges and fees set forth in our Schedule of Reasonable Charges if they have statutory authority to impose higher charges or fees,â counsel Lee Pope wrote.
âFor example, courts and registers of deeds have specific statutory authority to charge higher per-page fees for copies of certain records or to certify and file various types of records.
SEVIERVILLE â Sevier County has asked the state to consider the countyâs reasoning for implementing a $50 fee for records at the medical examinerâs office, after the Tennessee Comptrollerâs Office indicated it didnât appear to follow state law.
The county commission is set to consider a measure Monday that would create the fee at the medical examinerâs office, along with several other new or updated fees at different offices in the county.
The records fee, if implemented, would be waived for the first copy provided to a personâs next of kin.
That fee is the only one under consideration that applies to public records, and The Mountain Press asked the Comptrollerâs Office whether it conflicted with the Tennessee Public Records Act.