Joint drug investigation leads to drug charges against 45
Published 6:18 pm Thursday, March 23, 2017
Melinda Williams
Raymond Anderson
Reba Luman
Rebecca Puckett
Adam Taylor
Ricardo Mayse
Samual Lyons
William Potter
William Tolley
James Hardin
Jeremy Demster
Jason Scalf
Jackie Ray
Heather Potter
Faith Taylor
Dustin Barnett
Cortney McCallum
Christopher Stevens
Christopher Anderson
Candace Copas
Boyd Ward
Billy Oaks
Local law enforcement officers joined forces for a drug investigation that has resulted in officers arresting numerous individuals while police continue to look for additional wanted persons.
According to Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford, a joint drug investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and the Elizabethton Police Department led to drug charges being filed against 45 suspects.
“The operation which has been ongoing for approximately seven months was designed to target individuals who have been engaging in the sales, trafficking, and manufacture of illegal narcotics within Carter County and the City of Elizabethton and involved Narcotics Investigators from both agencies,” Lunceford said on Thursday afternoon. “The joint effort is the result of a solid partnership between the two agencies with an overall goal of working to reduce the amount of illegal narcotics which are being sold within the area.”
CCSO and EPD officers and investigators worked throughout the day on Wednesday serving warrants and indictments. Lunceford said he expects additional arrests to happen over the next several days.
As of Thursday afternoon, officers had arrested 27 of the 45 wanted persons. Police are currently searching for 18 more people wanted on warrants and indictments from the investigation. Most of the individuals who were arrested remain held at the Carter County Detention Center, but some were released after posting bond.
According to Lunceford, both his department and the Elizabethton Police Department have increased their efforts in narcotics enforcement based on an ongoing problem with illegal narcotics, specifically crystal methamphetamine and prescription medication.
“Since the initiation of this Drug Unit last year, we have made 241 arrests, seized 37 vehicles, seized $58,009.68 in drug money, and executed 70 search warrants,” Lunceford said. “We are very aggressively combatting the illicit drug trade in Carter County. However, it will continue to be done in a quiet and professional manner — remember, drug dealers read too.”
Arrested on Wednesday were the following individuals:
• Dustin Barnett, 29 of 695 Hampton Creek Road, Roan Mountain
• Jeremy Demster, 36 of 199 Swimming Pool Road, Lot 10, Hampton
• Angela Everett, 36 of 146 Price Road, Elizabethton
• Jerry Harrison, 42 of 130 Canter Road, Elizabethton
• Billy Oaks, 59 of 104 Nave Street, Lot 1, Hampton
• Rebecca Puckett, 31 of 199 Swimming Pool Road, Lot 10, Hampton
• William Tolley, 45 of 206 Mountain View Drive, Hampton
• Heather Potter, 36 of 190 Lovers Lane, Apt 2, Elizabethton
• Jackie Ray, 46, of Riggs Road, Watauga
• William Potter, 39, of 30 Kenneth Hollow Road, Watauga
• Raymond Anderson, 68, of 910 ½ Cedar Avenue, Elizabethton
• Christopher Anderson, 42, of 910 ½ Cedar Avenue, Elizabethton
• Melinda Williams, 42, of 319 Reynolds Road, Watauga
• Christopher Stevens, 31, of 208 Mountain View Drive, Hampton
• Boyd Ward, 75, of 108 Ed Carpenter Road, Johnson City
• Samuel Lyons, 42, of 330 Cash Hollow Road, Johnson City
• Tracy Rutledge, 40, of 1107 Highway 91, Elizabethton
• Ricardo Mayse, 29, Railroad Grade, Roan Mountain
• Adam Taylor, 42, Hylander Drive, Elizabethton
• Ajay Patel, 41, West G Street, Elizabethton
• James Hardin, 39, 621 West E Street, Elizabethton
• Jason Scalf, 34, 621 West E Street, Elizabethton
• Reba Luman, 23, 307 S. Sycamore Street, Elizabethton
• Candice Copas, 29, 921 Pine Ridge Circle, Apt C, Elizabethton
• Cortney McCallum, 609 Pardee Street, Johnson City
• Faith Taylor, 37, 404 S. Roan Street, Elizabethton
• Tony Coleman, 41, 222 Price Road, Elizabethton
Several individuals remain at large and are being sought including the following:
• Michael Lyons, 29 of 330 Cash Hollow Road, Johnson City
• Alyssa Nord 103 Osborne Road, Apt 8, Johnson City
(30) Joshua Carver, 30 of 916 Pine Ridge Circle, Apt A, Elizabethton
• William Carden, 51, of 708 Maple Street, Elizabethton
• Joshua Tester, 34, of 131 Pleasant Beach Road, Elizabethton
• Ashley Hartley, 32, of 1859 Powder Branch Road, Johnson City
• Michael McKinney, 63, of 2541 Gap Creek Road, Elizabethton
• Cody Gunn, 20, of 112 KE Drive, Johnson City
• Bonita Valdes, 41, of 330 Cash Hollow Road, Johnson City
• Jeff Mclaughlin, 29, of 427 West G Street, Apt 11, Elizabethton
• Sonny Acosta, 30, 2660 Siam Road, Elizabethton
• Amy Norris, 39, 534 Okolona Road, Johnson City
• Melissa Ollis, 28, 105 Hartsell Drive, Elizabethton
• Chelsea Moore, 24, 64 Earhart Drive, Blountville
• Linda Jones, 40, 4055 Stanley Valley Road, Surgoinsville
• Pamela Pardue, 46, 1410 Crackers Neck Road, Lot 2, Mountain City
• Crystal Williams, 45, 604 ½ Beech Street, Elizabethton
• Jermaine Crockett, 37, 1411 Orleans Street, Johnson City
For questions regarding this operation, or if you know the location of these individuals please call the Carter County Sheriff’s Office at 423-542-1845. Tips can also be submitted through the Sheriff’s Office website at www.sheriff.cc/contacts/crime-tip/.
Those with information can also contact the Elizabethton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (423)547-6250 or the Crime Stoppers Tips Line (423)542-7574. All tips can be made anonymously.
