Police tips lead to drug arrests
Published 8:27 am Thursday, June 24, 2010
Local law enforcement turned a tip into a drug bust on South Forest Avenue in Luverne late Tuesday afternoon.
“We had been receiving calls and complaints about drugs being sold,” said Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office investigator Heath Truman. “We were able to gather enough evidence for a search warrant.”
After entering the house, officers found marijuana.
Tony Hill, Cindy Caldwell and two others were arrested by the Luverne Police Department and the CCSO on drug charges.
The Sheriff’s Office also arrested Marquise Randle, 36, of Luverne on May 31 after an investigation.
“We purchased crack cocaine from him three times,” Truman said.
Randle was charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance and a probation revocation.
Tips and information also helped the CCSO and Brantley Police Department make several arrests involving a meth lab recently.
On May 24, a search warrant was executed on St. James Street in Brantley after officers received information that meth was being cooked there.
The home is located behind Brantley Bank and Trust and adjacent to a day care center.
“We entered the residence, and there was meth and pot in plain view in the living room,” Truman said.
Officers found three backpacks and equipment used to manufacture meth in the back of the home.
Lisa Van Woert, 46, of Brantley and Hunter Johnson, 30, of Luverne were arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless endangerment.