Storing his stash of drugs in a green bean can must’ve seemed like a good idea at the time.
Until it wasn’t.
Jerry George Stapp was arrested recently for methamphetamine distribution after authorities found 29 grams of methamphetamine in a green bean can in his bedroom.
“I don’t smoke that (expletive), I just sell it,” Stapp reportedly muttered when detectives asked him about the can.
According to a Putnam County Sheriff’s Office incident report, PCSO Detective J.D. Turk and Lt. Harry Luke received a tip from Morgan County Sheriff’s Office that Stapp was selling methamphetamine in Putnam County, along with some other information.
When he checked Stapp’s criminal record, Turk learned Stapp was on probation from several February 2025 convictions in Morgan County that included possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As is common for these types of convictions, one condition of probation is a “Fourth Amendment waiver,” meaning the probationer, his residence, and/or vehicle may be searched by law enforcement without a search warrant if there is suspicion of criminal activity.
After receiving the tip from the MCSO detective, Turk and Luke went to Stapp’s house. Although there were two pickup trucks in the driveway, no one came to the door when they knocked repeatedly. So, Turk and Luke decided to wait on the side of the road, not far from the house.
About 15 minutes later, Stapp drove his 2004 Chevrolet pickup out of his driveway, and Turk had him pull over to the side of the road. After talking with Stapp and informing him of his rights, Lt. Luke found a small baggie of a white crystal-like material, suspected to be methamphetamine, in Stapp’s pants pocket.
“Lt. Luke asked Stapp if he had any more at his residence and he replied, ‘no,’” Turk wrote in his report. “Lt. Luke then asked, ‘Not even in the bean can?’ And Stapp replied, ‘yeah, there is.’”
The detectives took Stapp to his house. In his bedroom, they reportedly found a clear plastic storage container containing a can with a green-bean label on it.
“The can appeared to be a can of cut green beans, but the can had a plastic screw top,” Turk said in his report.
Inside the can, Turk found a zip-style clear plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine and a corner-style baggie tied in a knot with more of the suspected methamphetamine. Also inside the clear plastic storage container were a set of digital scales, a black plastic spoon with white residue on it, and numerous small, empty zip-style clear plastic bags.
“During the search, no drug-related paraphernalia was found,” Turk’s report reveals. “No smoking devices or other devices used to ingest methamphetamine, (i.e. water pipes, stems, bowls, syringes) which further supports Stapp’s admittance of not using drugs and only selling them.”
In the corner of Stapp’s bedroom, they found an unloaded New England Arms .410 shotgun, and several boxes of .22 long rifle ammunition.
Jerry George Stapp, 62, of Fuller Union Chapel Rd., Eatonton, was arrested Feb. 24 on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bond in Putnam County Jail.