Rex Brown/Courtesy The Journal

Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark points to a map pinpointing the locations of drug suspects during a news conference last Thursday.

Sheriff’s office announces 38 arrests in ‘Operation Community Response’

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

PICKENS — A drug sweep conducted throughout Pickens County by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Easley Police Department and South Carolina Department of Probation and Parole had resulted in the arrests of 38 people, with another 18 still at large, at the time of a news conference last Thursday.

During the news conference, held at the Pickens County Law Enforcement Center, Sheriff Rick Clark said the focus of “Operation Community Response” was to identify and target those involved in the illegal possession or distribution of illicit drugs — predominantly methamphetamine — within the county.

The sheriff said this phase of the overall strategy was to identify the end user providing the “demand” to the dealer who is facilitating the “supply.”

“Our target is low-level dealers — out on the streets buying and selling,” Clark said.

A total of 79 charges have been lodged against the 56 total suspects involved, with 38 arrested since Monday of last week.

Clark said the investigation was initiated last fall, and the operation is one facet of an overall strategy to combat narcotics use in Pickens County.

“It’s called ‘Community Response’ for a reason — our community reached out to us and were wanting to get these drug dealers out of our community and off the streets,” he said.

Most of the charges for those arrested or are being sought involve methamphetamine.

“Meth is a scourge on our society, and we’re going to try and wipe it out,” Clark said.

While the sweep was conducted throughout Pickens County, some of those arrested or who are being sought are from Oconee, Anderson and Greenville counties.

Clark said five of the 38 arrested remained in jail as of Thursday morning. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the 18 other suspects is asked to contact the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 898-5500 or 1-888-CRIME-SC.

“We’re going to get the remaining 18 rounded up,” Clark said. “We hope to get tips from citizens. We value the cooperation and trust from the public and hope to have assistance.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 38 arrested, their status at the time of the news conference and bond amounts are listed below:

Jennifer Dianne Bagwell, Denise Road, Easley — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; and possession of a controlled substance, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Marcie Etrulia Brooks, Moorefield Memorial Highway, Liberty — possession of a controlled substance, $1,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Nicole Diane Burrell, Golden Creek Road, Liberty — distribution of marijuana, $10,000 surety bond; and possession of methamphetamine, second offense, $5,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Justin Allen Chappell, Robert P. Jeanes Road, Easley — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Kris Clark, Hunting Hollow Road, Six Mile — distribution of methamphetamine, $15,000 surety bond; still in jail.

Jessica Louise Davis, Friendship Drive, Seneca — possession of a controlled substance, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; and possession of methamphetamine, $1,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Tommy Allen Davis, Sunny Lane, Pickens — possession of methamphetamine, third offense, $2,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Brian Lee Dodgens, Tommys Trail, Pickens — possession of methamphetamine, second offense, $5,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Jackie Lamar Dodgins, Golden Creek Road, Liberty — distribution of methamphetamine, $15,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Kieky Dawn Durham-Williams, Moorefield Memorial Highway, Liberty — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; and bench warrant magistrate court, $1,000 cash; released from jail.

William Timothy Gantt, Elm Street, Pickens — three counts of possession of methamphetamine, second offense, $7,500 surety bond for all three; released from jail.

Sommer Leigh Goss, Garden Drive, Pickens — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Steven Douglas Graham, Mountain Estates Road, Pickens — possession of a controlled substance, $5,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Roger Brian Hembree, Barr Road, Easley — possession of methamphetamines, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Travis Mitchell Hendricks, Windy Hill Road, Central — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Joy Mary Hurley, Sunny Lane, Pickens — possession of methamphetamine, third offense, $20,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Blake Marvin Johnson, Pine Cliff Drive, Seneca — possession of a controlled substance, second offense, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Terance Gene Johnson, Garden Drive, Pickens — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; still in jail.

Laura Jean Jones, Effie Court, Liberty — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; and magistrate court bench warrant, $210 cash; released from jail.

Mark Donald Karr, Hedgepath Road, Liberty — distribution of methamphetamine, second offense, $20,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Ronald Eugene Kelley, Gentry Memorial Highway, Easley — possession of methamphetamine, $5,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Terri Ellen Lawson, Georges Creek Road, Easley — possession of crack cocaine, $5,000 surety bond; possession of marijuana, $5,000 surety bond; and probation violation, $5,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Carla Shawn Morgan, Friendship Road, Seneca — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Lindsey Brooke Morgan, Five Forks Road, Liberty — possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, $15,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Charles Junior Mosley, Old Greenville Highway, Liberty — possession of a controlled substance, second offense, $1,000 surety bond; possession of methamphetamine, second offense, $2,000 surety bond; and possession of cocaine second offense, $2,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Jennifer Tracy Gillespie Mowen, Longview Terrace, Easley — distribution of methamphetamine, $20,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Christopher Eugene Nichols, Welby Way, Liberty — distribution of methamphetamine, second offense, $20,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Eddie Coleman Powell, Avis Lane, Liberty — possession of a controlled substance, $1,000 personal recognizance bond; and possession of methamphetamine, second offense, $5,000 personal recognizance bond; still in jail. Powell was already being held within the Pickens County jail on unrelated drug charges from the Liberty Police Department.

James Doyce Reeves, Moorefield Memorial Highway, Liberty — distribution of methamphetamine, $15,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Johnny Clifford Reeves, Friendship Road, Seneca — possession of methamphetamine, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Christopher Robert Robinson, Penrose Circle, Pickens — two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, $15,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Betty Jean Shirley, Golden Creek Road, Liberty — two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, third offense, $40,000 surety bond; still in jail.

Jonathan Keith Simmons, Person Road, Easley — distribution of methamphetamine, $10,000 surety bond; two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, $2,500 each; and distribution of a controlled substance within a half mile of a public park, $5,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Gregory Paul Simon Jr., Robert P. Jeanes Road, Easley — distribution of methamphetamine, second offense, $20,000 surety bond; family court bench warrant, no bond; and magistrate court bench warrant, $1,270 cash bond; still in jail.

Jeffrey Lavern Stone, Mountain View Church Road, Pickens — possession of methamphetamine, second offense, $5,000 surety bond; and unlawful carrying of a pistol, $5,000 surety bond; released from jail.

Alvin Clark Sutton Jr., Argonne Drive, Easley — distribution of marijuana, third offense, $10,000 surety bond; possession with intent to distribute marijuana, third offense, $10,000 surety bond; three counts of possession of a controlled substance, second offense, totaling $5,000; released from jail.

Toni Leigh Trent, Mom Lane, Pickens — possession of methamphetamines, $3,000 personal recognizance bond; released from jail.

Corey Glenn Whiten, Brookway Drive, Easley — distribution of marijuana, second offense, bond pending; currently being held in the South Carolina Department of Corrections for other convictions.

The 18 remaining people being sought for arrest as part of the investigation, their age, last known address, description and charge are listed below.

Eric Lee Bailey, 40, of Greenville — white male, possession of methamphetamine.

Jimmy Wayne Benton, Jr., 29, of Easley — white male, possession of methamphetamine.

Albert Vernon Catoe, 28, of Easley — white male, distribution of methamphetamine.

Dustin Williams Collins, 34, of Cleveland, S.C., — white male, distribution of methamphetamine.

Zachary Allen Donald, 25, of Six Mile — white male, trafficking methamphetamine, third offense; possession of marijuana; possession of a firearm during a violent crime; and unlawful carrying of a firearm.

Matthew Shane Durham, 23, of Pickens — white male, possession of methamphetamine.

Craig Allen Gayheart, 40, of Easley — white male, possession of methamphetamine.

Philip Ernest Gilbert, 29, of Liberty — white male, possession of methamphetamine.

Jonathan C. Grover, 34, of Taylors — white male, possession of methamphetamine.

Kristy Lynn Hendricks, 29, of Six Mile — white female, possession of methamphetamine, second offense.

Frances Elizabeth Holder, 48, of Easley, white female, possession of methamphetamine.

Felicia Christine Kersey, 30, of Easley, white female, possession of methamphetamine.

Cameron Nicole Lecroy, 31, of Liberty, white female, possession of methamphetamine.

Laci Kay Meadows, 21, of Liberty, white female, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance.

Cathy Michelle McAlister, 41, of Pickens, white female, possession of methamphetamine.

Robert Franklin Miller, Jr., 27, of Pickens, white male, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Lewis Ray Stewart, 24, of Westminster, distribution of marijuana.

Bobby Allen Whitfield, 27, of Anderson, distribution of marijuana.