By Southern Torch Staff
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden: In the last couple of weeks, the DeKalb County Narcotics and Interdiction Team has racked up a total of 21 arrests. Earlier this week, six were arrested at a drug house on County Road 712 in a multi-agency raid.
On Monday, November 11th, Johnny Tyler Townson (25 of Fyffe) and Tiffany Gray (19 of Fyffe) were stopped in the Powell Area around County Road 572 by the DeKalb County Narcotics and Interdiction Unit. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 3 grams of methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia.
Townson and Gray were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Tuesday November 12th, James Guest (38 of Fort Payne) and Dehlila Placos McSpadden (45 of Valley Head) were stopped on Gault Avenue North in Fort Payne. During a search of the vehicle, approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine were discovered as well as a large amount of marijuana. Precursors (used to manufacture methamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia were also discovered.
McSpadden and Guest were charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Unlawful Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Wednesday, November 13th, Narcotics agents stopped a vehicle on County Road 78. During the stop, Agents detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted; resulting in the recovery of marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and controlled prescription medication.
The occupant of the vehicle, Mallory Orr (33 of Fort Payne), was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree.
On Thursday, November 14th, the Sylvania Police Department conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, synthetic marijuana was located. Sebastian Burt (18 of Fort Payne) was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Sunday, November 17th, Agents with the Narcotics Unit assisted Jackson County Deputies on County Road 802 in a search of a residence. Abby Schrader (57 of Flat Rock) and Steve Holland (64 of Higdon) were both charged with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, November 19th, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, Narcotics Agents, and Deputies executed a fugitive arrest warrant from Dade County (Georgia) on Samantha Paige Fry (27 of Ider) on Highway 75 near Ider. During the arrest, Fry was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Later that afternoon, a traffic stop was conducted on Alabama Highway 75, south of Geraldine. During the stop, approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine were discovered. Jamie Wayne Porter (48 of Grove Oak) was taken into custody.
Porter was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Also on the same day, Eric Petty (43 of Huntsville) was stopped for a traffic violation on Highway 35 near Rainsville. During the stop, deputies and agents observed Petty to be in possession of an open alcoholic beverage. The suspect was placed under arrest. During an inventory of the vehicle, methamphetamine was discovered as well as heroin, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Petty was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance - Heroin, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Prohibited Beverage.
On Friday, November 22nd, deputies and agents attempted to conduct a traffic on County Road 468, resulting in a pursuit. The vehicle eventually stopped. The driver Saul Gonzalez (51) actively resisted arrest and was found to be in possession of an open alcoholic beverage.
Gonzalez was charged with Resisting Arrest, Attempting to Elude, and Possession of a Prohibited Beverage.
On Monday, November 25th, the DeKalb County Narcotics Unit, along with the DeKalb County Special Response Team (SRT), and ALEA Task Force executed a search warrant on County Road 712 near Henagar. A search of the residence revealed approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Shaun Hawes (36 of Flat Rock), Jessie Garner (31 of Ider), Michael Tidwell (39 of Collinsville), Christopher Payne (43), and Christopher Holcomb (46 of Ider) were arrested at the residence. All were charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
A female at the house, Quanda Franks (48 of Fort Payne) was also arrested and Charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, November 26th, DeKalb County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on County Road 108. During the stop, methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia was discovered. Larissa Kilgro (40 of Albertville) and Jamie Bradfield (37 of Albertville) were both arrested. The two were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The case was turned over to the Narcotics Unit.
Today, (November 27th) DeKalb County Deputies, along with the Henagar Police Department, and the Narcotics Unit went to a residence on County Road 138. While at the residence, Heather Guinn (31 of Ider), who was wanted by multiple counties was located. While taking Guinn into custody, methamphetamine was found in the residence, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Guinn was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in addition to her existing warrants.
Late this afternoon Scotty Hodge (28 of Rainsville) was arrested after a brief foot pursuit in the Powell area. A criminal interdiction sergeant was checking a house after being asked by the owner. He observed a vehicle pull behind the residence. When the sergeant approached, the suspect fled on foot.
Hodge was taken into custody a short distance away from the residence. Hodge was charged with Attempting to Elude and has three existing felony warrants as well as two misdemeanor warrants.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the counter-narcotics operations: “Counter-narcotics operations are one of our top priorities as a department. Many of our crimes are tied into the drug problem. If we do our best to take away the supply of dangerous narcotics, it will take away the motivation for thefts and the fuel for violence.”
“We are also blessed to have the full support of the ALEA Task Force and our municipalities in tackling the drug problem. On Monday night of this week, we were able to close down a drug house that has been a menace to the Henagar and Ider area with the help of the Special Response Team and state task force. The SRT is made up of law enforcement officers from all over the county,” he said.
“God Bless!” Concluded Sheriff Welden.