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photo by Kevin Pearcey
Robert Powell, arrested as part of a countywide crackdown on suspected drug dealers, awaits processing in the Butler County Correctional Facility on Friday.
Officers raid houses at dawn to snag alleged dealers
Published Friday, January 29, 2010
Calling it the largest countywide raid in history, law enforcement officers executed 31 arrest warrants against suspected drug dealers at dawn on Friday in Greenville, Georgiana and across Butler County.
“Drug enforcement is everybody’s business and we can get out and do it a lot better when we work as a team,” said Lonzo Ingram, Chief of Police in Greenville, of working with members of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Georgiana police, and agents with the 35th Judicial Circuit’s Drug Task Force.
Sheriff Kenny Harden said the organized raid ends a nearly six-month long investigation into the alleged illegal activities of 31 individuals in Butler County.
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“We wanted to do this to get the people we know have been selling drugs,” said Harden.
The early morning raid resulted in several quick arrests. By 10 a.m., law enforcement personnel had 11 suspects in custody. That number had climbed to 16 suspects by 1 p.m., said Captain Al McKee at the Butler County Correctional Facility, with at least three others awaiting processing.
Suspects typically became harder to find once the first few arrests had been made, said Lt. Justin Lovvorn, Greenville investigator.
“The word starts getting around,” he said.
Harden said nearly all of the suspects were wanted for selling drugs of some type: methamphetamines, crack cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs.
Many of those arrested on Friday were repeat offenders, he said.
Harden emphasized that the cooperation between county and city would continue.
“This is not going to be the end of it,” said Harden. “This is going to be a continuous, ongoing operation.”
Those arrested as of 4 p.m. Friday and their charges:
- Annie Bradley, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Cruize Murray, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Deterrio Gregory, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Deundrea Smith, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Emanuel Riley, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Erik Rudolph, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- John Smith, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Kathy Armstrong, conspiracy.
- Keilo Riley, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Leterrain Smith, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Lukieth Lekely, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Marcello Jones, theft of property, 3rd.
- Michael Vickery, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Marshall Lyons, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Reco Hartley, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Richard Mack, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Robert Powell, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Robert Simpson, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
- Shayne Stewart, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
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Comments
Posted by treeplanter (anonymous) on January 29, 2010 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go guys!!! Sad thing is that we all know that this is the tip of the iceburg! This is that low hanging fruit that I was talking about. Keep digging and looking into your own departments such as law enforcement and fire departments. We have a major problem in Butler Co. and the only way to eliminate it, is to let everyone know that it won't be tolerated or accepted. Great start, Keep it up!
Posted by redeemed (anonymous) on January 30, 2010 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad thing is that most of these people are on probation for the same crimes and most of them will be back on the streets within a few months doing the same thing again. Court system is a revolving door.
Posted by bgtimespender33 (anonymous) on January 30, 2010 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's always good to see drugs taken off the street. However, the guys that were arrested today are the street pushers. When are we gona see the middle man or the kingpins in the paper. They are the ones that are really behind all the drugs these little street pushers are running the street with everyday.
Posted by prvt (anonymous) on February 3, 2010 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
amen
Posted by floc34 (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They need to clean up the streets of Butler County........ then maybe some of us that have moved far far far away will want to come back to visit or vacation during the summer
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