Nineteen people are behind bars in Butler County after a drug roundup that officials say resulted from a six-month investigation.

The roundup took place early Tuesday morning.

“It’s a good day for Butler County,” Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden said. “The Second Judicial Drug Task Force did an outstanding job, and we were able to get people that are selling the drugs off the streets.”

All 19 of the people arrested were charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Two were charged with possession of marijuana and a third was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Greenville Police Chief Lonzo Ingram credited the success of the roundup to cooperation between the local law enforcement agencies.

“In Butler County all the law enforcement agencies work so well together,” he said. “That’s what it takes to get the job done, and that’s why this operation was a success.”

Harden said while the number of people arrested is lower than in previous roundups that have netted up to 35 arrests, the lower number is actually a positive sign.

“It shows that the war we’ve launched on drugs in Butler County has made a difference,” he said. “By working together we’ve been able to cut down on the drug activity. When you cut down on drugs, you cut down on the crime in your community. A lot of your burglaries, robberies and thefts are because people are looking for a way to get money to buy drugs. If you take the folks that are selling the drugs off the street, then there’s no one for people to buy the drugs from, and that cuts down on your crime. These roundups are making a difference.”

The following individuals were arrested as part of the roundup:

• Danny Crenshaw, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Michael Simpson, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Sandra Soles, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Carlos Crittenden, unlawful distribution of controlled substance and possession of marijuana, first degree
• Cornelius Crenshaw, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Santana Crook, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Darious Howard, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Betty Owens, unlawful distribution of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia
• Ollie Morris, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Jonathan Acreman, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Anthony Davidson, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Willie Butler, unlawful distribution of controlled substance and possession of marijuana, second degree
• Anricco Montgomery, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Edward McCullough, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Gerald Smith, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Andre Key, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Erin Gardner Gafford, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Chris Thompson, unlawful distribution of controlled substance
• Marvin Rudolph, unlawful distribution of controlled substance

“It was a very successful roundup,” Harden said. “We were able to use the element of surprise to get all but two of the people we were targeting. We’re still after the ones we missed, and there will be more arrests coming.”