Eighteen persons from throughout Union and Whitmire had been arrested as of Wednesday morning as part of the operation which began Tuesday. Arrests by both the sheriff’s office and the Union Public Safety Department are expected to continue throughout the rest of the week.
Lt. John Sherfield of the Drug Task Force said the investigation leading to Operation Winter Surprise has been going on for five months. Sherfield said the investigation targeted street-level dealers in high crime areas of Union, Putman, Carlisle, Lockhart, Buffalo and Whitmire in an effort to clean up those neighborhoods. He said that during the course of the investigation the task force confiscated approximately $1,000 worth of drugs including crack cocaine, marijuana and prescription medication. In building their cases, the task force used surveillance and undercover operatives making drug buys with recorded government funds.
Operation Winter Surprise is the latest phase in an ongoing anti-drug sweep that began in 2009. The investigations have resulted in Operation Spring Clean in April and Operation Summer Slam in July. Sherfield said that in 2009 the task force arrested 356 persons on drug-related charges and seized $35,000 in cash and three vehicles.
More arrests by the sheriff’s office are planned and Sherfield said the Union Public Safety Department will also be serving warrants related to Operation Winter Surprise as well.
Sheriff David Taylor commended the efforts of the Drug Task Force in Operation Winter Surprise and over the past year. He said that much remains to be done and that his office will continue to work to fight drug-trafficking.
“We’ve put a strong effort on drug enforcement since we took office,” Taylor said. “We still don’t feel like we’re getting high -level drug-dealers but we feel we’re making inroads. We have been working with ATF, DEA and some surrounding counties to get to some of the suppliers that we feel are bringing the drugs into our county. This will be an ongoing effort. We know we will not completely stop the drug trafficking but we plan to send a message that if they’re dealing with drugs we’re going to be looking at them.”
The following were arrested Tuesday and this morning as part of Operation Winter Surprise:
Robert Edward Lee Fowler, 22, 1265 Kelly Rd., Union, charged with distribution of marijuana.
Denver Wallace Harris, 30, 210 Meansville Rd., Apt.F-4, Union, charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within a mile or a half-mile of a school.
William Samuel Smith, 41, 1208 W. Main St. Apt. 8-E, Union, charged with distribution of crack cocaine.
Thomas Cartelyous Scott, 50, 122 Brooklyn Ave., Union, charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within a half-mile of a park.
Thomas Boyd Austin, 36, 231 Hancock St., Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule III narcotic and distribution of a Schedule III narcotic within a half-mile of a school.
Joe Lewis Davis, 42, 922 Lakeside Drive, Union, charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within a half-mile of a school.
Bryant B. Glenn, 22, 418 Jonesville-Lockhart Hwy., Jonesville, charged with distribution of crack cocaine.
Jennifer O’Neil Davis, 29, 137 Shady Drive., Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule II narcotic and distribution of a Schedule II narcotic within a half-mile of a school.
Gena Marie Gregory, 25, 3647 Buffalo-West Springs Hwy., Buffalo, charged with distribution of a Schedule II narcotic and distribution of a Schedule II narcotic within a half-mile of a park.
Sherry Lynn Fallen, 34, 726 Rice Ave. Ext., Apt. 9-E, Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule II narcotic and distribution of a Schedule II narcotic within a half-mile of a park.
Jarvis Andrew Jeter, 19, 441 Whitlock Lake Road, Jonesville, charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine.
Earl Eugene Browning, 46, 1044 Neal Shoals Rd., Union, charged with Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages
Darrell A. Briggs, 33, 104 Hunter Ridge, Lot 4, Union, charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of crack cocaine within a half-mile of a school.
Joseph C. Faulks, 34, 112 Poinsette St, Union, charged with distribution of a Schedule II narcotic.
Michael Daniel Shaw, 25, 147 Brooklyn Ave., Carlisle, charged with three counts of distribution of crack cocaine.
George Mitchell Horton, 19, 683 Rice Avenue Ext., Apt. 1G, Union, charged with distribution of marijuana.
Eddie Brannon Jr., 26, 912 North Church St., Union, charged with distributrion of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine within a half-mile of a school.
Kenneth Curenton, 87 Lowery St., Whitmire, charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
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