Monday, June 23, 2008

Lawrence County Efforts Lauded In Annual Operation FALCON

   Lawrence County saw tremendous success in this year’s Operation FALCON roundup, arresting some 72 individuals during the seven day operation period.

    The nationwide fugitive apprehension operation, coordinated through the U.S. Marshals Service, combines the resources of federal, state, city, and county law enforcement agencies in order to locate and apprehend criminals wanted for crimes of violence.

   This year, members of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Suppression Unit focused efforts on the apprehension of suspects in drug-related cases. After working for the past year on many of the cases, investigators presented evidence against numerous suspects to the June 6 session of the Lawrence County Grand Jury. Members of that panel then returned drug-related indictments against 29 local residents.

   During the June 15 through June 22 operation, agents were able to apprehend 21 of those individuals. Arrested on drug indictments were:  James Collier, Bobby Houser, James C. Hickerson, Cassandra Wilburn, Tommy Johnson, Rafael Salsedo, Capucina Young, Azzara Stevenson, James Brazier, Anthony Barnett, Daniel Price, Kimberly Price, Jarrod Carter, Donna Carter, Justin Wiseman and Carol Wiseman. The remaining individuals arrested, officials report, were wanted on state warrants on various crimes.

   Seized during the operation was more than ten pounds of marijuana, an indoor grow operation, more than $70,000 worth of property, four automobiles, two handguns, and numerous other items, including U.S. currency.

   In addition, officials indicate that more than $7,000 was collected from these individuals by the Unauthorized Substance Division of the Department of Revenue. The funds were collected in accordance with the state’s “crack tax law,” which requires that drug dealers pay taxes on the drugs they sell or possess.

   Members of all local city, county, state and federal law enforcement organizations took part in the operation. Officials indicate that the local effort was so successful they were able to apprehend 38 of the subjects in a single day.

   The sheriff’s department has issued a plea for information regarding the eight individuals indicted on drug charges who remain at large. Those eight are:  Franklin Thornton, Earl England, Christopher Gordon, Chasity Buie Gordon, James Maples, George Griggs, Larry Randolph and Andrea James. They request that anyone who might have information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts contact the department at 762-3646, or the department’s Crime Suppression Unit at 762-1608.

.

.