After making several undercover purchases of methamphetamine, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and Greenville Police Department executed a search warrant on a residence on Seventh Avenue in Forest Home.

Four arrests were made when the house was stormed on March 8.

Sheriff Kenny Harden said they had been watching the residence for quite some time.

“We’ve been buying meth there,” Harden said. “We knew it was there.”

John Sawyer, 62, Tammy Bush, 46, Chad Langford, 36, and Sarita Schofield, 41, were taken into custody and charged with various offenses.

Harden said the individuals were gathering at the residence, owned by Sawyer, to use and purchase methamphetamine.

“Meth is dangerous—it’s the worse drug we have,” Harden said. “Anytime we get information on meth, we follow it up.”

Sawyer was charged with 2 counts of distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Bush was charged with distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Schofield was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Langford was charged with possession of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana 2nd.

GPD police chief Lonzo Ingram said he was happy to help in the raid.

“Sometimes the situation dictates a joint operation,” Ingram said. “Anything we can do to get people that sell drugs and buy drugs off the street is a major plus.”

Harden said keeping drugs out of Butler County helps keep crime out of the county as well.

“85 percent of all crimes are drug related—not just in Butler County but everywhere,” Harden said. “When you cut down on drug activity, you cut down thefts, you cut down burglaries and you cut down robberies.”

This crime, Harden said, is fueled by the continuing need to feed their addiction.

“They are stealing stuff because they need money to buy more drugs,” Harden said.

The sheriff said methamphetamine is not much of a problem in Butler County. To help keep law enforcement ahead of the drug curve, however, Butler County has started requiring that inmates released after serving time for meth charges wear a GPS bracelet. Four of these bracelets are currently in use, helping keep track of known meth users in the community.