14 LOCALS ARRESTED IN STATEWIDE ROUNDUP

Twelve Tangipahoa residents were arrested early Wednesday as part of a
statewide narcotics sting operation, dubbed Operation Frost Bite.

Statewide, 875 people were arrested and 1,000 arrest warrants were issued
in the operation, which was part of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association,
officials said. Fifty-five of the state's 64 parishes took part in the
operation.

Locally, the Tri-Parish Narcotics Task Force, which is comprised of
Tangipahoa, Livingston and St. Helena parishes, made 16 arrests. Twelve
Tangipahoa residents and four Livingston parish residents were arrested in
the sting operation.

"The purpose of Operation Frost Bite was to identify and take drug dealers
off the streets, to illustrate the extent of the drug problem and to
respond to, and allay, the public's concerns regarding the drug and crime
issue in the state," said Patti Giannoble Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's
Office public information officer.

The following local residents were arrested in the operation:

a.. Timothy Ray Jones, 43, 1679 Duncan Road, Hammond, possession of a
firearm while in possession of a Schedule II narcotic. b.. Ollie Montreal
Selders, 22, 36380 Selders Road, Independence, possession with intent to
distribute marijuana. c.. Kintina Andrews, 20, 13470 Friendship Road,
Walker, possession of Schedule II narcotic. d.. Darryl Patrick, 34 10326
Illinois Jones Road, Hammond, possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
e.. Dewayne Coleman, 2024 Lakeside Circle, Hammond, carnal knowledge of a
juvenile. f.. Kendrick Beard, 20, address unknown, Ponchatoula, two counts
of distribution of cocaine. g.. Swan Jones, 20, 277 S. 2nd St.,
Ponchatoula, distribution of cocaine. h.. Rosario Adams, 18, 4348 Dillon
Lane, Hammond, distribution of cocaine. i.. Dwayne Johnson, 21, 116 Clinton
Court, Hammond, distribution of cocaine. j.. Darrell Mason, 38, 15046
Bridge St., Tickfaw, distribution of cocaine. k.. Ryan Braud, 19, Acadian
Square Apartments, U.S. Highway 190, Walker, distribution of MDMA
(ecstasy). l.. Vernon Wesley White, 51, 32740 Pea Ridge Road, Albany, two
counts of distribution of Schedule III narcotics (Vicodan) and two counts
of distribution of a Schedule IV narcotic (Xanex). m.. Darrell Wayne
Beachamp, 41, 930 Rodeo Drive, Denham Springs, two counts of distribution
of Schedule II narcotic, (crack cocaine). n.. Jason Francois, 20, 27198 Red
Oak Road, Livingston, distribution of MDMA (ecstasy).

Two Texas residents, who were traveling through Tangipahoa Parish on
Interstate 12, were also arrested in the operation, Giannoble said.

Deputies pulled the vehicle over for following too closely. The drug dog,
Chelsea, alerted that narcotics were hidden in a rear door panel, Giannoble
said. The stop netted about 25 pounds of marijuana with a street value of
$15,000, Giannoble said.

Keith Wright, 32, and Mark Anthony, 37, both of Houston, were arrested and
charged with intent to distribute marijuana.

Statewide, police shut down at least five homemade labs for manufacturing
methamphetamine and confiscated weapons, cash, equipment and various
amounts of drugs that range from several grams to several pounds, said Dale
Broussard, director of the sheriffs' association Violent Crimes and
Narcotics Strike Force.

"We're sending them a message we're going to run them out of the state of
Louisiana. We're going to arrest them, and we're going to prosecute them,''
Attorney General Richard Ieyoub said.

Operation Frost Bite involved law enforcement groups from around the state,
including 55 sheriffs' offices, local and state police agencies, anti-drug
task forces, Ieyoub's office, the Louisiana National Guard and federal
agencies.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.