Tryon Food and Fuel employee arrested for selling narcotics at store

Published 5:30 pm Thursday, February 22, 2018

TRYON—An employee of Tryon Food and Fuel was arrested this week, accused of selling narcotics at the store.

Jacqueline Baily Stafford, 59, of Henson Road, Forest City, was arrested and charged on Wednesday with trafficking in opium and the sale and delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school property, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Capt. Lowell Griffin said the Polk Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team, with the sheriff’s office and the Tryon Police Department, conducted an undercover operation for the illegal sale of opiates at the store.

Jacqueline Baily Stafford

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“The agencies were conducting an investigation as a result of community tips about the sale of narcotics at the Tryon Food and fuel, which is a convenience store in Tryon,” Griffin said.

Capt. Tim Wright, of the Tryon Police Department, said the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency is also investigating the case because Tryon Food and Fuel is licensed for the retail sale of alcohol. Wright said teamwork between agencies is key in successfully investigating these types of cases.

Tryon Food and Fuel is located at 3950 Lynn Road, Tryon, with Tryon Elementary across the road from the store.

Stafford was still in jail under a $75,000 secured bond as of Thursday.