Drug raid lands five in jail

marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com

HEALDTON — A late night drug raid at a Healdton residence Thursday led to the arrests of five people on methamphetamine possession charges.

Capt. Gregg Johnson, Carter County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Division, said Danni Slone Roberts, 24, who occuppied the residence near Healdton High School and a park, along with Colt Haynes, 20, Lacy Acox, 31, Deren Epley, 28, and Gregory Adams, 39, were all taken into custody without incident. The five were booked into the Carter County Detention Center to await formal charges.

Johnson identified Roberts as a "key player," who had been the target of an ongoing narcotics investigation involving the distribution of methamphetamine but, he said, it was information Deputy Gus Handke obtained late Thursday that resulted in a search warrant.

"Two concerned citizens called Gus and gave him the current information we needed. That information included that meth had just arrived at her (Roberts') residence and there were numerous people at the residence to make purchases. Rumor has it narcotics (officers) go home at 5 p.m. That's not true. When we get information we act on. In this case were were able to get a search warrant and we served it," Johnson said.

The search warrant yielded methamphetamine packaged for sale and scales, as well as items described as being "used to ingest meth."

Friday prosecutors filed charges of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) within 1,000 feet of a park and school were filed against the five. After former conviction penalty enhancements were attached to the charges against Roberts and Haynes. Roberts had pleaded guilty in August, 2012, to a November, 2011 charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and is currently serving a deferred sentence in that case. Haynes was also serving a deferred sentence in connection with his guilty plea to August, 2010 charge of endeavoring to manufacture methamphetamine.

All five defendants made initial appearances in district court. Preliminary hearing conferences are set for 9 a.m. Feb. 26. Roberts posted a $50,000 set on the charge against her and was released from the county jail Friday afternoon. Haynes remains jailed pending the posting of a $75,000 bond. Bonds of $25,000 were set on the charges against Acox, Epley, and Adams. All three also remained at the county jail late Saturday afternoon pending the posting of their bonds.

Johnson said while charges have been filed, the investigation remains ongoing.

"We anticipate additional charges will be filed," he said.

Carter County Sheriff Ken Grace called the case a "prime example" of the results that can be achieved when citizens work with law enforcement to take drugs off the streets.

"One of my pledges to the citizens of Carter County has always been that this department would conduct an active and ongoing effort to eradicate drugs and methamphetamine has always been at the top of the list. I have also encouraged citizens to join us in the war on drugs by providing us with information concerning what is going on in their neighborhoods or around their rural property. This is a prime example of just how effective citizen information can be," Grace said.