29 arrests on drug charges
Last Updated on 3/20/2010
Published on 10/15/2009
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
More than 30 law enforcement officers drove away from the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office about two hours before sunrise Wednesday with one goal -- to round up as many people wanted on drug charges as possible.
With more than 100 warrants in their hands, deputies, police officers, SLED agents and U.S. Marshals spread out all over the county, knocking on doors while many of the suspects were still asleep.
There were five teams of officers covering the Georgetown and Andrews areas as well as Pleasant Hill, Lamberttown and Sampit.
By Thursday, a total of 29 people had been arrested.
Most of the arrests were made at homes or workplaces but some suspects turned themselves in after being told by family they had received a visit from the cops.
Lt. Amy Glover said that when some people learn they are wanted, they turn themselves in to keep from being hunted by authorities.
8-month probe
All of the warrants served were for distribution charges from the eight-month operation.
There were additional charges added for some suspects after their arrests.
One man was found to have a gun and was charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
Another was found with a video camera reportedly stolen from Georgetown High School.
The teams were hoping to arrest at least 50 people but, as the operation got underway, word began to spread about what authorities were doing.
Johnson said he learned from experience once these types of operations begin, people start calling each other, telling them that the police are on the way, which gives many of them a chance to leave.
At several stops in the Sampit area, no one was home or no one answered the door.
Lt. Neil Johnson said authorities did not have the right to go into any of the homes without permission so, if someone who answered the door said the wanted person was not there, the officers had to take them at their word unless they were invited inside to search.
Little resistance
For the most part, the suspects were arrested with little resistance.
One man on Farr Avenue in Andrews ran when deputies arrived at his house at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, but he was quickly apprehended.
"We did it to get people off the street who are buying and selling drugs," Sheriff Lane Cribb said of the operation.
Cribb said undercover officers had been working for several months to identify suspects before the operation took place.
He said investigations into drug activity in Georgetown County will continue and more warrant roundups are planned.
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Please. The police are scared of real criminals. They know all the areas where this stuff is going on, but they do nothing about it. They also know who the top tier guys are. They do a couple of big busts a year for headlines. Most of the time they would rather focus on speed traps. Its ridiculous. Posted by on 10/20/2009 |
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This comment is directed to the person asking "how am I sposed to feed my babies now..." I have an idea, take your butt back to school! The way you type/talk leads me to believe that you have a 5th grade education and that's the reason you can't feed your children. You should be ashamed. Get a job and let your "babies daddies" serve their time for having drug charges. Posted by on 10/20/2009 |
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This is great news; however, when are they going to get around to the Petigru/Newman Loop/St. Christopher area? Posted by on 10/18/2009 |
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how am I sposed to feed my babies now. ya'll took my babies daddies away. Now I ax you, what am I sposed to do? Posted by on 10/17/2009 |
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Why aren't the names listed? Addresses also... Posted by Transparency on 10/16/2009 |
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Also it's just not dead beat dads, also dead beat moms.It's good that attention is drawn on all the drug activity. To many families and children are affected by these drugs. Great job, GT. Sheriff office. Posted by Mark Roberts on 10/16/2009 |
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Great Job Guys!!!Keep up the great work!! Posted by on 10/16/2009 |
