An investigation by local and state law enforcement agencies that began earlier this year culminated last week with the arrest of a dozen suspected drug dealers in Eatonton.
Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell said 12 people were arrested July 21 and charged with offenses related to the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
"Over half of them were already on probation; that's what's so bad about it," Cardwell said. "They just didn't learn to quit selling drugs in the city of Eatonton."
The Eatonton Police Department was assisted by the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Middle Georgia Gang Task Force, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision and the Georgia State Patrol.
"This is an ongoing investigation, and more arrests are forthcoming," Cardwell said. "We are making every effort to rid our community of illegal drugs."
Cardwell thanked Eatonton police officers, the assisting agencies and his office staff for their work on the investigation.
"They did a lot of work because it was a lot of paperwork involved after the arrests were made," he said.
Those arrested were:
- Ricky Barnes, 35, of Eatonton — Three felony counts of distribution of cocaine, one felony count of possession of cocaine and probation violation.
- Quindarius Coney, 25, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of marijuana, one felony count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and misdemeanor probation violation.
- Savon Crawford, 32, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of marijuana.
- Markel Griffin, 27, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of ecstasy/MDMA and probation violation.
- Dramen Humphrey, 19, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of marijuana.
- Moreese Lowe, 40, of Eatonton — Felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and probation violation.
- Khalid Mathis, 26, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of marijuana and probation violation.
- Jaidyn Porter, 19, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of marijuana.
- Donald Reid, 45, of Eatonton — Felony distribution of crack cocaine, felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and parole violation.
- Skylar Sharpe, 26, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of ecstasy/MDMA, felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug-related objects and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
- Larry Webb, 75, of Eatonton — One felony count of distribution of marijuana.
- Patrick Wesley, 31, of Eatonton — Two felony counts of distribution of marijuana, one felony count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and probation violation.
Ten of the suspects were booked into the Putnam County Jail and are being held without bond. Mathis was already incarcerated in the jail on unrelated charges, according to a Putnam County Jail spokesperson. Barnes is being held in the Baldwin County Jail, Cardwell said.
"Anyone that has information that would assist us in this investigation, please call me," Cardwell said. "Just call the Eatonton Police Department at 706-485-3551 and ask for Chief Cardwell."