DRUG ARRESTS CONTINUE

Drug arrests continued Thursday in the wake of the warrant roundup
Wednesday of alleged drug dealers targeted after a three-month, undercover
21st Judicial District Drug Task Force investigation.

By late Thursday morning, the two-officer warrant teams composed of Van
Buren police officers and state troopers had served 20 warrants and made
two additional felony drug arrests based on probable cause stemming from
the roundup, Van Buren Capt. Ronnie Blount said.

The task force has one warrant left to serve and expects more arrests based
on information received during the arrests already made, Van Buren Chief
Mason Childers said.

Warrant charges included possession and attempt to deliver methamphetamine,
marijuana, cocaine and Lorcet and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers seized a few ounces of marijuana from the two arrested on probable
cause during the roundup, Childers said.

"Everything went smooth, and there were no additional charges other than
the warrant charges - we didn't have anybody attempt to flee or draw
weapons on us," Blount said, attributing it to the surprise factor.

Arrests released by the Van Buren Police Department as of Thursday included
Robert Lewis, 18, for delivery of marijuana; Patrick Dillard, 19, for
delivery of methamphetamine; Bradley Bennett, 18, for delivery of cocaine;
Danny Reed, 43, for delivery of methamphetamine; Jcena Green, 19, delivery
of marijuana; Barbara Pickern, 38, possession of methamphetamine,
possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; Carrie
Gregory, 18, delivery of marijuana; Steve Shearburn, 22, possession of
methamphetamine and possession of marijuana; Stillman Connacher, 50,
delivery of methamphetamine; Darrell Boyd, 53, delivery of Lorcet; Harold
Boyd, 53, delivery of Lorcet; Robert Jones, 27, possession of marijuana
with intent to deliver; Billy Freeman, 21, delivery of marijuana; Timothy
Riley, 21, conspiracy to deliver marijuana; Teresa Moses, 21, delivery of
methamphetamine and marijuana; James Moses, 18, delivery of marijuana and
possession of marijuana with intent to deliver; and William Staggs, 18,
delivery of marijuana and possession of marijuana.

Those arrested may have gone quietly, but that doesn't mean they haven't
fussed.

One man visited the police station Thursday morning, complaining about his
door having been kicked in as his warrant was served and demanding to speak
to the chief. Blount pointed out the officers had a legal warrant at the
time, offered him another copy of the warrant and advised him to consult an
attorney if he wished to make a formal complaint. The man thanked him.

With the cooperation of Van Buren Housing Authority officials and apartment
complex and area business and plant owners and managers, the task force
placed undercover operatives in key positions to observe drug transactions.
Safety and production concerns motivated the community leaders to ask for
the task force's help, Sgt. George Cabaniss said.

Childers has warned that those knowing the whereabouts of and assisting
wanted persons to evade arrest may be arrested themselves for hindering
police efforts.

Those arrested in the task force roundup are expected to be arraigned next
week.