TRICKERY YIELDS 61 ARRESTS IN LAURENS COUNTY

DUBLIN - Drug enforcement units in Laurens County used a little subterfuge
in the war on drugs, making 61 arrests Thursday and Friday at a road check
on an exit ramp of Interstate 16.

Sgt. Kirk Hartwell of the Laurens County Sheriff's Office's Interstate
Criminal Enforcement Unit said the road check was designed to be successful.

"We put flashing (Department of Transportation) road signs on the
interstate that said, 'DUI, drug check point one mile ahead,' " Hartwell said.

"Then we put those signs actually about a quarter of a mile from the next
exit and we put two decoy patrol cars up the road with the lights going."

Hartwell said the officers actually were sitting at the top of the exit
ramp, not on the interstate.

"We deliberately chose an exit with no gas stations and no stores, and I'd
say 75 percent of the people that got off there were holding drugs, were
DUI or suspended license or something," Hartwell said.

"Anyone with any sense knows we can't shut down the interstate."

Even so, Hartwell said officers still had to have probable cause before
they could search a vehicle the same as they would any other time.

But, Hartwell said, "most of them were so scared, it wasn't hard."

Among the more notable arrests was a Connecticut woman arrested after
deputies found a 50 pound bale of marijuana in her car, Hartwell said.

In addition to the 61 arrests, Hartwell said officers found "quite a bit of
dope" on the side of the road near the signs.

In the two days, operating from about 3-10 p.m., officers made 31
misdemeanor marijuana arrests. They also made numerous felony drug
possession arrests: 11 for marijuana; eight for cocaine; and five for
methamphetamines and ecstacy. The officers also charged six people with
illegal weapons possession, 17 people with driving on a suspended license,
and three allegedly intoxicated drivers were arrested.

They also took five fugitives into custody who "were wanted in one place or
another and just happened into the road check," Hartwell said. On the
felony drug arrests, officers confiscated several cars.

Hartwell said several agencies participated in the road check along with
the ICE unit: the Laurens-Dublin Drug Unit, the state Department of
Corrections canine unit, state probation officers, off-duty Laurens County
deputies and the Laurens County EMA.

"It was about a 30-man detail," Hartwell said. "Everyone that helped us did
a great job, real professional, a real great job."

A similar road check a year ago produced 82 arrests.

"It gives you some idea of what percentage of folks are running dope up and
down the road," Hartwell said. "It's just unbelievable."