From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden:
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — During the month of March, DeKalb County Deputies, Narcotics Agents, K-9
Unit, SRT Unit, SRO’s and Investigators, along with Sylvania, Henagar, Collinsville, Crossville
Police Departments, ALEA Troopers, DHR, Gadsden City Police Department, Etowah County
Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Unit charged 36 with drug related charges.
We certainly want to thank all that assisted with these arrests. We definitely couldn’t do what
we do without all of you.
On Wednesday, March 1 st , Officers with Sylvania Police Department conducted a traffic stop on
County Road 112, finding methamphetamine in the vehicle. A DeKalb County K-9 Unit assisted
with this stop. Steven Brandon Holt (31 of Valley Head) and Jessica Denise Wood (40 of Fort
Payne) were charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.
Also, on Wednesday, March 1 st , DeKalb County Deputies stopped a vehicle at Hwy 117 and US
Hwy 11 in Hammondville, finding the driver to be in possession of several Ecstasy pills. Paul
William Jeter III (29 of Loganville, Ga) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled
Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Again, on Wednesday, March 1 st , Officers with Henagar Police Department conducted a routine
traffic stop on Central Road. One of DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Units arrived on scene
with the K-9 making a positive alert. Methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia
were found in the vehicle. Gabriel Rose Starkey (23 of Flat Rock) was charged with Unlawful
Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jason
Henry Howse (46 of Pisgah) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance
(x2), Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2 nd , Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and
Promote Prison Contraband 2 nd .
On Friday, March 3 rd , Deputies were dispatched to assist Officers with Leesburg Police
Department on Al 176 in DeKalb County on a traffic stop. The driver was found to be in
possession of synthetic marijuana. Shanise Michelle Bain (32 of Gadsden) was charged with
Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Saturday, March 4 th , Deputies conducted a traffic stop near Hwy 68 and Hwy 168. When
Deputies walked up to the vehicle, they noticed an open bottle of alcohol. During a search of
the vehicle, 14 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia was located.
Randall Lamar Counselman (63 of Guntersville) was charged with Unlawful Distribution of

Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Possession of
Prescription Pills, Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Beverages, Unlawful Possession of
Marijuana 2 nd and DUI (controlled substance).
Again, on Saturday, Deputies conducted a traffic stop on County Road 176 and 107. When
Deputies activated the lights, the driver of the vehicle abruptly pulled into a driveway then
exited the vehicle and started walking away. During a search of the vehicle, synthetic
marijuana and methamphetamine were found. DHR was called to the scene due to small
children being in the vehicle. Amanda Michelle Cameron (34 of Fort Payne) was charged with
Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2), Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Possession of
Drug Paraphernalia, Attempt to Elude and Assault 3 rd . Kristopher Lee Keef (33 of Fort Payne)
was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of
Drug Paraphernalia.
Also, on Saturday, Narcotics Agents conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 68 and I-59 finding the
driver to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A K-9 Unit assisted
with this stop. Dereck Lane Bearden (24 of Fort Payne) was charged with Unlawful Possession
of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Monday, March 6 th , Narcotics Agents responded to a residence that someone was there
actively using drugs. When Agents arrived, they found Pamela Lynn Massey (41 of Fort Payne)
in possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Massey was charged with
Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2) and Unlawful Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, March 7 th , Deputies conducted a traffic stop on County Road 27. The driver was
identified as David Samuel Todd (48 of Fort Payne) who had active warrants with DCSO. Todd
was also found to be in possession of prescription medication that he did not have a
prescription for. Todd was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance,
Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and 3 warrants for Failure to Appear.
On Monday, March 6 th , Narcotics Agents conducted a traffic stop on Al Hwy 75 in Fyffe finding
several opened and unopened containers of alcohol. Welden Bradford Burns (52 of Crossville)
and Russell Howard Childs (53 of Naples, Fl) were charged with Unlawful Possession of
Prohibited Beverage.
Also, on Tuesday, Narcotics Agents assisted SROs with an investigation of drug activity going on
at a residence on County Road 215 in Rainsville. Agents, Deputies and DHR conducted a search
of the residence finding marijuana and drug paraphernalia. A safety plan was put into place for
the children. Khara Lou Tidwell (33 of Rainsville) was charged with Unlawful Possession of
Marijuana 2 nd and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Wednesday, March 8 th , DeKalb County SRT Unit assisted Narcotics agents execute a search
warrant at a residence on County Road 138 in Henagar. Methamphetamine, marijuana, drug

paraphernalia and a trailer containing items that had recently been reported stolen were found.
Ryan Keith Shirley (43 of Rossville, Ga) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled
Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2 nd
and Loitering. Justin Christopher Yale (26 of Macon, Ga) was charged with Unlawful
Possession of Controlled Substance, Resisting Arrest, Obstructing Government Operations
and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Brandon Eugene Palmer (43 of Henagar)
Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2 nd , Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2),
Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (x3) Resisting Arrest, Trafficking in Any Illegal
Drug, Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance, Probation Violation and 1 warrant for
Failure to Appear.
On Friday, March 10 th , Officers with Crossville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on
Hwy 688 and Hwy 227 finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. A K-9
Unit assisted with this stop. James Ray Miles (49 of Section) was charged with Unlawful
Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Saturday, March 11 th , Deputies and Investigators responded to a trespassing call on US Hwy
11 in Fort Payne. When officers arrived the found Michael Dwayne Hornsby (30 of Marietta,
Ga), Gary Allen Presley (34 of Alpharetta, Ga) and Michael Perry Mitchell (34 of Carrollton, Ga)
in possession of methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Hornsby was
charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x3), Unlawful Possession of
Marijuana 2 nd , Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Criminal Trespassing 3 rd .
Presley was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Criminal Trespassing
2 nd , Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2 nd .
Mitchell was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x3), Unlawful
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Trespassing 2 nd and Unlawful Possession of
Marijuana 2 nd .
On Thursday, March 16 th , Narcotics Agents went to County Road 728 in Henagar after receiving
information that Freddie Lee Bradford (41 of Henagar), who had multiple warrants, was hiding
in the attic. Bradford was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance,
Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2 nd , Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Attempt to
Elude and Probation Violation.
Again, on Thursday, Officers with Henagar Police Department conducted a traffic stop at
Andrew Lee Drive and Hwy 75. The driver of the vehicle was driving on a suspended license.
During a search of the vehicle, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found. Terry
Leonard Nix (57 of Collinsville) was charged with Trafficking in any Illegal Drug and Unlawful
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Also, on Thursday, Deputies went to a residence on Hwy 68 in Crossville looking for Dustin Skye
Croft (32 of Crossville) who had Felony warrants. When Deputies located Croft, he was found
to be in possession of Heroin and drug paraphernalia. Croft was charged with Unlawful
Possession of Controlled Substance (x2) and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (x2).

On Sunday, March 19 th , Deputies attempted a traffic stop with the driver refusing to stop. After
a short pursuit, the driver pulled over. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found
in the vehicle. Michael Douglas Mooneyham (53 of Crossville) was charged with Unlawful
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and a Failure
to Appear warrant.
On Tuesday, March 21 st , Deputies conducted a traffic stop near County Road 55 and 176. After
running the license, it was discovered that the driver had an active warrant with Shelby County.
During a search, drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle. Jack Barton Burgess (19 of
Glencoe) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Again, on Tuesday, Narcotics Agents conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 75 in Henagar finding the
driver to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Melissa Leshae
Biddle (42 of Henagar) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and
Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Friday, March 24 th , Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the driver refusing to
stop. As the driver was fleeing, she was throwing things out the window. The stuff she was
disposing of was retrieved and identified as synthetic marijuana. The chase ended in Gadsden
where the driver was taken into custody. Gadsden City, Etowah County Sheriff’s Office and
Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit assisted in this case. Jonte Lorin Bishop (26 of Gadsden)
was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of
Marijuana 1 st , DUI (controlled substance), Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,
Tampering with Physical Evidence (x2), Attempt to Elude, Reckless Endangerment and
Criminal Littering (x2).
On Saturday, March 25 th , Deputies went to a residence off of County Road 78 in Fort Payne
looking for a female who had active warrants. When Deputies arrived, a male answered the
door but once Deputies were inside, the male ran from the residence. During a search,
methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia was found. Also recovered from the
home were street signs belonging to the City of Fort Payne. Later in the day, Deputies located
the male who had run from the home. Tanda Sue Northrup (36 of Fort Payne) was charged
with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2), Unlawful Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia (x2), Trafficking in any Illegal Drug, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2 nd ,
Receiving Stolen Property 4 th and 2 warrants for Failure to Appear. William Floyd Burt II (41 of
Fort Payne) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2), Unlawful
Possession of Marijuana 1 st , Probation Violation, Trafficking in any Illegal Drug, Unlawful
Possession of Marijuana 2 nd , Receiving Stolen Property 4 th , Resisting Arrest and 3 warrants for
Failure to Appear.
On Wednesday, March 29 th , Officers with Collinsville Police Department, along with Narcotics
Agents conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 68 finding methamphetamine, over 200 Hydrocodone

pills, morphine pills, marijuana, Xanax and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Amanda Renee
Peppers (32 of Carrollton, Ga), Barney Hayes Peppers (80 of Collinsville) and Barney Adam
Peppers (43 of Boaz) were charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x4),
Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs.
On Tuesday, March 28 th , Officers with Collinsville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on
Hwy 68 finding the driver to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Randall Heath Harcrow (46 of Centre) was charged with Unlawful Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.
Also, on Tuesday, Deputies, along with ALEA Troopers were searching for a vehicle that had
been reported in a hit and run. The vehicle and occupants were later found with the driver
being arrested due to an outstanding warrant. The passenger was found to be in possession of
methamphetamine and prescription pills. Kennedy Lasha Steele (23 of Valley Head) was
charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia.

On Wednesday, March 29th, Officers with Ider Police Department conducted a traffic stop on
Hwy 75 in Ider.  Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle.  Tony Joe
Hannah (51 of Scottsboro) and Crystal Gayle Mullinax (40 of Scottsboro) were charged
with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of Controlled
Substances.