34 FACE CHARGES IN OPD DRUG SWEEP

Twenty-three Owensboro Police Department officers didn't have hugs and
kisses on their minds when they struck out at 7 a.m. Thursday for
"Operation Valentine."

Instead, the officers had arrest warrants for 34 people charged with
first-degree felony drug crimes, the culmination of a six-month operation
that saw undercover drug buys all over town.

By early afternoon, 27 people had been arrested and jailed, and the
remaining seven were being sought. All of the charges fell under the
category of trafficking in a controlled substance and all involved either
crack cocaine, methamphetamine or marijuana.

Most of those arrested were hit with multiple charges because they sold
drugs to undercover agents more than once.

"By the end of today, hopefully, people will know that this type of crime
won't be tolerated," OPD Chief Allen Dixon said.

Lt. Frank Tennant, commander of the criminal investigation division, said
the investigation targeted mid-level to street-level dealers.

"We get complaints on a daily basis," Tennant said. "I know people get
frustrated when they don't see action right away. But their calls led to this."

Tennant said the buys were made in every section of the city.

"If we heard they were selling dope, we were interested in buying," he said.

The investigation was coordinated by OPD's Special Enforcement Unit, made
up of Sgt. Connie Chapman and detectives Joe Moran, Randy Boling, Anthony
Howard and Ed Champion. Every buy was monitored electronically, and some
were captured on videotape.

The operation began in August as the result of complaints from residents.
By the end of January, evidence had been collected against 40 people. The
Daviess County commonwealth's attorney's office prepared the arrest
warrants, which were signed for 34 individuals Wednesday. Thursday morning,
officers assigned to make the arrests went out in teams of three.

The six people for whom warrants have not been issued are still under
investigation, Tennant said.

Undercover agents, working for pay, spent about $10,000 for the drugs. The
money came from money and property seized by the police department under
forfeiture of assets laws.

Dixon said it was OPD's third major drug sweep in two years.

"This will slow things down for awhile and create some paranoia," he said.
"But we can't let our guard down."

All the arrests were made without incident, Tennant said.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, police had released the names of 23 of the 27 people
arrested in the sweep. More names will be released today, Tennant said.

Those arrested and charges against them were:

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000
yards of a school.

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) within
1,000 yards of a school.

- -- , three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana)
within 1,000 yards of a school.

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

- -- , trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) within
1,000 yards of a school.

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) within 1,000 yards
of a school.

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) within
1,000 yards of a school.

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

- -- , two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) within
1,000 yards of a school.