Roundup targets those putting drugs on the streets

Etowah County, Al.
Operation Last Call, a drug roundup on Wednesday, was different than most roundups by the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, Commander Rob Savage said.

Most of the people arrested so far had warrants for trafficking, distribution and manufacturing of drugs, he said.

“The majority of these suspects were responsible for putting drugs on the streets,” Savage said. “They weren’t just using drugs.”

Agents with the drug unit, assisted by the Joint Special Operations Group, U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Gadsden Police Department Special Projects Team, spread out Wednesday across Etowah County with 76 felony drug warrants for 51 people, Savage said.

By Thursday, 26 people had been arrested on 43 warrants. That’s a good percentage for this type of roundup, Savage said. He said agents with the drug unit and the sheriff’s office fugitive warrant division would continue to look for those not already in custody.

“When we’re able to complete an operation like this, we can make an impact on a much greater number of those involved in the drug trade,” he said. “Through these types of operations, we can take away the supply, and it has an effect on the entire community.”

About 70 percent of the warrants were for distribution of a controlled substance, primarily crack cocaine and methamphetamine, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said.

“These are the dealers that are selling the drugs, and making these kinds of arrests is key to keeping drugs off the streets of Etowah County,” Entrekin said. 

Several arrests also were made for trafficking in drugs, targeting the people who sell drugs to those who resell them on the streets.

“With these arrests, agents focused on the source of where these drugs are coming from, and who is selling them,” Entrekin said.

Several warrants also were for manufacturing meth, and the remaining ones were for possession. All the warrants were felonies.

Small amounts of cocaine, marijuana and illegal pills were seized during arrests on the warrants. A gun, loaded and in the possession of a convicted felon, also was seized, Savage said.

The undercover investigations that led to these warrants have been ongoing for several weeks.

Savage said such an operation is possible through the drug unit’s working relationship with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.

“Our goal through the Safe Streets Task Force was to reduce the availability of narcotics and the other associated crimes that come with that,” Savage said. “This type of operation is an example of what that partnership can accomplish. The resources we have through the federal government and local law enforcement agencies is a way that we can make a impact on a daily basis. The task force continues to focus its resources toward those willing to sell illegal drugs.”

Task Force agent Sgt. Chris Haney and Deputy Commander Woody Johnson said it’s easy to think in terms of the number of people arrested on drug charges, but officers see first hand the effects of the actions of those selling drugs.

“People think in terms of bad guys selling drugs,” Haney said. “But a lot of these people who are selling drugs are mamas and daddies.”

A difficult aspect of such roundups is dealing with the children in the homes where arrests are made, Haney said.

“The kids are victims, too,” he said. “Their daddy is going to jail and they’re screaming and crying. It’s hard to see this.”

Johnson said officers take into consideration the effects the arrests will have on children.

“The last thing we want is for kids to be scared,” he said. “But a group of officers with guns and wearing vests goes in, and all many of the kids know is we’re taking their daddy or mama to jail. Most of these kids already have a lot of turmoil in their lives.”

Those who know there are warrants for their arrest can contact the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office or the DEU to turn themselves in.

Arrests included:

GADSDEN

Dexter Avery, 31, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Forrest Blake, 21, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
Joshua Bradley, 24, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Terry Bradley, 45, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
Codrerious Christopher, 23, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Walter Dale Davis, 31, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Kelvin Embry, 37, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Antoine Jones, 29, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Cynthia Mabry, 61, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Marcus Malone, 32, trafficking
Dominique Meaders, 25, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Pierre Peoples, 25, two counts of first-degree possession of marijuana and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Kendric Rigby, 20, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
David Stephenson, 39, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Joshua Sweatt, 32, unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Jamal Taylor, 28, unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Gary Thompson, 50, unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Marvin Turner, 31, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Jackie Wilson, 49, trafficking
Kynaston Stewart, 45, unlawful possession of a controlled substance

ATTALLA
Jimmy Rodriguez, 29, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Sergio Salazar, 35, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Howard Williamson, 31, unlawful possession of a controlled substance
 Martin Zendejas Jr., 19, five counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

SOUTHSIDE
Richard Vermillion, 31, unlawful possession of a controlled substance

RAINBOW CITY
Robert Young III, 30, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance