By ANNA BROWN

Standing with Union County’s two other chief law enforcement officers, Sheriff David Taylor said they represent a united front in the fight against illegal drugs.

“We’re here and we’re going to be back,” he said Thursday morning as he, Chief Sam White of the Union Public Safety Department and Jonesville Police Chief Jimmy Wilkins announced that 17 people had been arrested in “Operation Spring Clean.” By 5 p.m., the number of arrests had increased to 20.

“We’re fighting a battle and we are going to keep fighting it. We are knocking at the door,” he said.

Taylor said at least 30 people will be arrested on 69 drug-related charges. Officers also were busy Thursday serving search warrants at five different locations that likely would garner more arrests.

“During the search warrants, additional drugs have been found, drug money has been recovered and drug paraphernalia has been located,” Taylor said.

White said his department was proud to be a part of the effort.

“And we look forward to doing more of this in the future to help make our county a little better place to live for our children and citizens,” he said.

Wilkins agreed.

“We are really getting coordinated since the new sheriff came into office and everybody is working together,” he said.

Taylor said this was the second drug roundup in the last month.

“We made 10 drug arrests in January, 10 in February and we made 39 drug arrests in March,” he said. “After today, there will be over 70 arrests that are drug-related. We have had a productive three months and the next three months are not going to be any different.”

Many tips that led to arrests came from the public, Taylor said.

“I have really been pleased with community support,” he said. “Communities are tired of this type of activity going on.”

Taylor said he didn’t feel like any “big fish” were netted in the arrests.

“You’ve got to catch the little fish to get to the big fish,” he said. “I am happy with what we have done so far, but am I satisfied? No. You’ve got to get to the people who are providing the money and never touching the goods.”

Those arrested include:

— Forest Wesley Waldrop, 43, of 114 Union Boulevard, Union, charged with two counts distribution of narcotics and distribution of a narcotic within one-half mile of a school.

— Mark Levi Lawter, 25, of 103 Fairmont St., Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule 5 narcotic and distribution of a Schedule 5 narcotic within one-half mile of a school.

— Heather Wynette Lawter, 25, of 103 Fairmont St., Union, charged with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule 5 narcotic.

— Wesley Edgar Hedden, 36, of 120 Hilltop View, Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule 4 narcotic and distribution of a Schedule 4 narcotic within one-half mile of a school.

— Jody Lynn Rector, 27, of 736 Monarch Highway, Union, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

— Tyvin Marquis Jeter, 30, of 271 Meansville Road, Union, charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana within one-half mile of a school.

— Derrick Jeron Rice, 18, of 100 Lipsey St., charged with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within one-half mile of a school.

— Richard David Meador, 29, of 330 Pineneedle Road, Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule 2 narcotic, distribution of a Schedule 2 narcotic within one-half mile of a school, distribution of a prescription drug, distribution of a prescription drug within one-half mile of a school, distribution of a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance within one-half mile of a school.

— Catherine Magner Dawkins, 47, of 101 Balsam St., Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule 2 narcotic and distribution of Schedule 2 narcotic within one-half mile of a school.

— Chad Allen Phillips, 18, of 127 Toney Road, Union, charged with distribution of cocaine and distribution of cocaine within one-half mile of a school.

— Reginald Lee Hughes, 35, 207 Pinetree Lane, Union, charged with four counts of distribution of crack and three counts of distribution of crack within one-half mile of a school.

— Christopher Lee Edwards, 36, of 154 Hamm St., Union, charged with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within one-half mile of a school.

— Qusay Yusus Thomas, 30, of 408 Norris St., Jonesville, charged with distribution of marijuana, distribution of marijuana within one-half mile of a school and possession with intent to distribute marijuana within one-half mile of a school.

— Derek Dion Thompson, 28, 179 Tim Drive, Jonesville, charged with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within one-half mile of a school.

— Darrell Brown, 20, of 224 Lukesville Road, Buffalo, charged with distribution of marijuana , distribution of marijuana within one-half mile of a park, distribution of crack and distribution of crack within one-half mile of a park.

— Vanessa Castrejon, 20, of 1110 Pineland Road, Union. charged with giving false information to police.

— Gerard Newton, 21, of 203 Ravenscroft St., Union, charged with distribution of cocaine and distribution of cocaine within one-half mile of a school or park.

— Shanika Q Gist, 23, of 175 Industrial Park Road, Apt. 2-F, Union, charged with simple possession of marijuana.

— Clinton Goings, 30, of 198 Third St., Union, charged with simple possession of marijuana.

— Charles Edward Crosby, 32, of 147 Duncan Ave., Union, charged with distribution of cocaine.