Joint Sheriff’s Office, Police Department operation nets 44 arrests

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

A joint operation of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and Griffin Police Department narcotics units on Wednesday resulted in the arrests of 44 suspects on drug-related and other charges.

According to Sheriff Wendell Beam, the arrests are the result of a four-month investigation conducted by the SCSO Special Operations Unit and the GPD Special Investigation Unit.

“The investigation revealed drugs from Spalding County were being distributed from north Georgia to southern Alabama,” Beam said. “Methamphetamine and GHB, commonly known as the date rape drug, were the main focus of this investigation.”

The operation that netted the arrests also resulted in the confiscation of four firearms.

Three of the individuals charged in connection to this investigation are currently incarcerated in prison and were allegedly conducting drug activity from within the prison, Beam said.

This is the latest in a series of joint city/county narcotics investigations that have yielded high arrest numbers.

“The narcotics units are working really well together,” Beam said. “The Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office have a good relationship. I appreciate the Chief and all the officers’ cooperation. I hope we can keep this up and move forward.”

GPD Chief Steve Heaton also praised the narcotics agents’ efforts saying, “I think it was a very successful operation. This is the third operation since I’ve been here when we’ve been able to work with the county to address the gang and drug issues that we have both in the city and the county. Many of these people that were arrested that we know are involved in drug and gang activities are also involved in other criminal activities such as burglaries, robberies and possibly even some of the drive-by shootings we’ve had in the past few months.”

Heaton said these types of law enforcement operations are complex and that the cooperative effort is beneficial to city and county residents.

“It’s a lot of work, the type of operations they’ve been doing. It takes a lot of resources and time to develop those cases, but I think we’re making an impact,” he said. “We’re dealing with the same issues –the same problems and the same people – it’s a good opportunity for us to work together and combine our resources and deal with these types of issues.”

He said this third operation resulted in the re-arrest of some individuals previously charged in other narcotics cases.

“I don’t know the numbers yet, but I know that some of the people arrested in this operation were also arrested in one or even both of the previous operations. Hopefully our prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office and our judges will see that these are repeat offenders and that while they’re out on bond, they’re out violating and reoffending,” Heaton said. “I’m not being critical of our prosecutors or judges, but I think people need to know that. I would hope that the District Attorney and judges in our area will see that and either revoke their previous bond or not allow them to have a bond this time around. To me, you give someone bond who you think may not do it over and over again, but we know we have some folks that we’ve arrested previously and they’re out on bond doing the same thing again. It ought to be clear to everybody…they’re not given a bond to go out and commit further crimes.”

The individuals arrested and charged in connection with this alleged narcotics operation include:

 

Donald D. Finch Jr., age 30, 1302 Pleasant Ave., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Trafficking methamphetamine

Possession of GHB (date rape drug)

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Andrea Pauline Feltman, age 30, 1710 Hallmark Dr., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Trafficking methamphetamine

Possession of GHB (date rape drug)

Ethan Bonds, age 22, 747 Chuli Rd., Griffin (In custody in Paulding County)

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Jerry Craig Bradshaw, age 42, Lee State Prison

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

John F. Cavender, age 29,    117 Woodcrest Dr., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Robert C. Cobb, age 32,  29 Plum St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine

Dwayne Coe, age 21, 25 Rehoboth Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Corey Colley, age 26, 1 Aster Dr., Montgomery, Ala.

Theft by receiving stolen vehicle

Possession of GHB (date rape drug)

Possession of GHB (date rape drug) with intent to distribute

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Reckless driving

Felony fleeing and eluding

Tag light requirement

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Mark W. Corley, age 46, 4079-I Newnan Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Davis, Erica I., age 29, 1220 Ellis Rd., Griffin, Ga.

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Trafficking methamphetamine

Possession of GHB (date rape drug)

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Joseph T. Duncan, age 50, 1401 Manley Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Arkelei M. Etheridge, age 38, 10 Dunsindane Lane, Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

William D. Feltman, age 56, 124 Fourth Ave., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Louis Few Jr., age 34, Henry County Jail

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Scott A. Fitzgibbon, age 28, 1640 W. Poplar St., Griffin

Theft by receiving stolen vehicle

Possession of GHB (date rape drug)

Possession of GHB (date rape drug) with intent to distribute

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Possession of a sawed off shotgun

Possession of a firearm by convicted felon

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Rico J. Freeman, age 28, 120 Rider Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Possession of Schedule IV controlled substance

James W. Garrett, age 49, 183 Poplar St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of methamphetamine

Debra S. Glass, age 50, 118 Davidson Dr., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Crystal D. Hall, age 24, 324 Main St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance

Dusty W. Huggins, age 29, Lamar County Jail

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of a cell-phone by an inmate

John A. Jones, age 48, 126 Waterford Way, Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Darnell J. King, age 32, 223 Birdie Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine

Justin W. Lasiter, age 51, 1401 Manley Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Failure to register as sex offender

Jenny A. Mack, age 40, 1710 Hallmark Dr., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of methamphetamine

Staci D. McDaniel, age 29, 196 Plantation Trail, Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Michael J. Meeks, age 33, 110 E. Main St. N., Hampton

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Giving false name and date of birth

Joseph S. Melton, age 34, Johnson state Prison

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Justin R. Melton, age 29, 436 Elder Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of drug objects

Jennifer L. Messer, age 33, 462 Trice Rd., Milner

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine

Veronica D. Murphy, age 39, Homeless

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Richard C. Parker, age 55, 253 Liberty Hill Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Angelica E. Pollard, age 27, 111 Liberty Hill Apt. F, Milner

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Jacqueline Smallwood, age 44, 324 Main St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Charles A. Smith, age 55, 108 Moose Lodge Rd., Lot 11, Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Telly S. Thomas, age 33, 201 Warner Rd., Barnesville

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Rhonda R. Turner, age 50,  210 Colston Dr., Toccoa

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute

Trafficking methamphetamine

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Monterio, B. Watkins, age 33, 225 Ruth St., Apt. H., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Quina S. Watkins, age 23, 133 Peachtree St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Mario A. Williams, age 35, Spalding County Jail

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine

Clifford J. Franklin, age 31, 1840 W. McIntosh Rd., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Constance Helms, age 39, 1840 W. McIntosh Rd., Griffin

Violation of probation

Anthony R. Bozeman, age 49, 1312 Brown St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance

Jayson Luke Bradley, age 37, Washington State Prison

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance

Andrew Davis, age 26, 155 Melton St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Jennifer Turner, age 24, 155 Melton St., Griffin

Use of telecommunications device to facilitate illegal drug activity

Violation of Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act