ELIZABETHTOWN — Bladen County deputies executed a significant-sized roundup of suspects on various drug charges since the beginning of the year.
Sheriff Jim McVicker, through a news release, said his office was asked by new Bladenboro Police Department Chief Will Howell to help respond to complaints from the public. The Sheriff’s Office said it identified 35 suspects through an undercover operation.
Agencies assisting the Sheriff’s Office and the Bladenboro Police Department included the district attorney’s office, N.C. Probation and Parole, the State Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol Law Enforcement, State Highway Patrol, N.C. Information Sharing and Analysis Center, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Bladen County Emergency Services.
The arrests began Friday, with 27 taken into custody. Three more — Jerry Autry, Jordan Hughes and Murray Todd — were brought in this week. Warrants have been taken out on the rest.
Charges the suspects face are related to drugs, the sale of drugs near a school or park, weapons, assault, larceny and parole violations. The drugs included heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.
Bail for Autry, of Village Oaks Apartments in Bladenboro, was set at $550,000. Bail for the other 29 ranged from $10,000 to $210,000.
Hughes’ address is listed as the 300 block of Bethel Street in Bladenboro, and Todd’s address is the 11000 block of Twisted Hickory Road in Bladenboro.
Those in the initial roundup of arrests included Penny Sahli, of the 300 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro; Haileigh Sahli, of the 300 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro; Robert Byrd, of the 300 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro; Brittany Garrell, of the 300 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro; Paul Hamilton, of the 200 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro; Dorothy Deaver, of the 200 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro.
Also, Christen Russ, of Mercer Hill Apartments in Elizabethtown; Christopher Eason, of the 400 block of Edwards Avenue in Bladenboro; Zachary Howard, of the 15000 block of N.C. 131 in Bladenboro; Joshua Hurst, of the 8400 block of N.C. 131 in Bladenboro; Donald Pridgen, of the 1100 block of Pine Ridge Circle in Bladenboro; Dennis Strickland, of the 100 block of Pine Street in Bladenboro.
Also, Ricky Butler, of the 4100 block of Center Road in Bladenboro; Heather Outlaw, of the 4100 block of Center Road in Bladenboro; Divine Manuel, of Oakdale Homes in Clarkton; David Shaw, of the 3100 block of Grimsley Farm Road in Bladenboro; Charles Poythress, of the 1100 block of Storms Road in Bladenboro; Kendrick Gillespie, of the 600 block of MLK Drive in Bladenboro.
Also, Akeem Westmoreland, of the 400 block of Round Branch in Bladenboro; Tamra Russ, of Village Oaks Apartments in Bladenboro; Arnal Bunnell, of the 300 block of Lennon Drive in Bladenboro; Tramel Howell, of the 40 block of P&W Drive in Bladenboro; Amber Brisson, of the 8400 block of N.C. 131 in Bladenboro; Sharlene Turner, of the 300 block of Bethel Street in Bladenboro.
Also, Amy Autry, of Village Oaks Apartments in Bladenboro; Benjamin Todd, of the 100 block of Kelly Street in Bladenboro; Daquan Jones, of the 1800 block of Zion Hill Church Road in Bladenboro; and Jeremy Richardson, of the 300 block of Midway Drive in Bladenboro.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking for Matthew Johnson, of the 500 block of Booker Lennon Road in Bladenboro; Christopher Johnson, of the 500 block of Booker Lennon Road in Bladenboro; Dominique Cratch, of the 12000 block of N.C. 42 in Bladenboro; Derby Sykes, of the 300 block of Lennon Drive in Bladenboro; and David Jackson, of Spinners Court Apartments in Bladenboro.
Anyone with information related to the cases is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 910-874-0656. Information can be anonymously given.
One of those arrested, is linked to the allegations of election fraud involving the 9th District.
Eason, who has felony convictions for armed robbery and car theft, signed a sworn affidavit last month saying he handed a blank ballot to McCrae Dowless, a political operative working for Republican U.S. House candidate Mark Harris. State records show Eason’s vote was recorded.
The election investigation has included subpoenas for the campaigns of Harris and McVicker, as well as the Red Dome Group. No charges have been filed in that probe.