Fifteen people were arrested on a total of 27 charges.
Union County Sheriff David Taylor said the task force involved about 40 officers, including deputies, Union Public Safety officers, agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and state troopers.
Heavy crime areas in the city and county were targeted with traffic checkpoints and sweeps where officers went out on foot patrol and talked with people who were out.
“We were looking for people doing anything wrong,” Chief Sam White of the public safety department said.
Officers were at Veterans Park, the parking lot of the former Winn-Dixie and the Chamber Town area.
Taylor said the Union County Drug Task Force participated in the sweep by executing two search warrants for illegal drugs, which resulted in four arrests.
One residence was on 409 South Second St., Lockhart where deputies found around 2 1/2 ounces of what is believed to be marijuana. Taken into custody were Rebecca Lynne Hooks, 45, and Patricia Dawn Ingle, 61, listed as living at the residence. Both were charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana within one half mile of a school. Officers also seized $1,000 from Ms. Ingle. Officers also seized a .25 Raven Arms pistol, several partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and a sword.
Another warrant was executed a search warrant at 635 Browns Creek Church Road for illegal drugs. There they found around one-half pound of what is believed to be marijuana and a quantity of what is believed to be powdered cocaine.
Albert Clayton Morris, 48, who lives at the house, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of powder cocaine.
Amanda Kay Hughes, 22, also of the address, was charged with possession of a Schedule IV narcotic.
During the traffic checkpoints and sweeps, 11 people were arrested and four were issued summons for seat belt violations.
The charges including driving under suspension, simple possession of marijuana, violation of probation, public drunk, driving under the influence, violation of the ABC Law and having an open container of alcohol.
Most of the cases were made were on the Magistrate’s Court level with the exception of Joe Franklin Nichols Jr. of 125 Wingfield Drive, who was charged with possession of a Schedule IV narcotic. A warrant signed by Capt. Freddie Gault with the public safety department said Nichols had six valium in his possession in the parking lot of the old Winn-Dixie.
Taylor said more joint sweeps by the city and county are planned in the future. Taylor and White said officers put in over 16 hours of work on Friday and they commended them for their dedication.
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