A multi-agency roundup of suspected drug offenders led to the Thursday morning arrests of 14 local people, according to Tallahatchie County Sheriff Jimmy Fly.
“Fourteen individuals were safely taken into custody without incident...,” he noted in a written statement Friday.
Fly said approximately 35 law enforcement officers and agents from the Tallahatchie and Yalobusha county sheriff’s offices, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the U.S. Marshals Service picked up individuals on a variety of drug-related arrest warrants and indictments.
“The charges are stemming from an ongoing investigation that has taken place in Tallahatchie County for a number of years,” Fly noted, adding that the primary focus of the investigation has been individuals selling and trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine.
He said that during the course of the investigation, more than 20 pounds of meth was either seized or purchased by law enforcement. Those drugs have an estimated street value of $80,000, Fly added.
The following people were arrested, and some of them face multiple counts of the listed charges:
» Orenthal Brooks, 48, of 233 Depot St., Charleston, on a charge of sale of a controlled substance (cocaine)
» Genise Cox, 31, of 117 Panola Ave., Crowder, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Markell Crossgrove, 38, of 445 Dorothy St., Charleston, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Marvin Gant, 54, of 1381 Eskridge St., Charleston, on charges of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and felon in possession of a firearm
» Linda Hunt, 46, of 195 E. Third St., Crowder, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Alvin Johnson, 43, of 400 Eskridge St., Charleston, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Tyrone Murry, 42, of 717 Depot St., Charleston, on a charge of sale of a controlled substance (cocaine)
» Aaron Prince, 30, of 645 W. Main St., Charleston, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Jeffery Rainey, 30, of 154 Leflore Ave., Glendora, on a charge of sale of a controlled substance (cocaine)
» Dexter Dewayne Ray, 45, of 1133 Saddle Lane, Tillatoba, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Brian Rideout, 47, of 2916 Murphreesboro Road, Scobey, on a charge of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
» Dana Smith, 38, of 132 Nell St., Charleston, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
» Kenterrace Speight, 22, of 1293 Goosepond Circle, Webb, on a charge of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
» James Willie Taylor, 34, of 513 E. Holly St., Charleston, on charges of sale of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and conspiracy
Fly expressed appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices of law enforcement officers involved in the investigation.
“I am very grateful for everyone at the Sheriff’s Office who worked overtime and worked on their days off to make this possible,” Fly said. “Special thank you to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Office and Charleston Police Department.”
