WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsCounty arrests 15 in months-long narc investigation

County arrests 15 in months-long narc investigation

MARLBORO COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Marlboro County officials have arrested and charged 15 people in a narcotics investigation.

The Marlboro County Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force, which is comprise of the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office and the Bennettsville Police Department's Narcotics Units, executed Operation Grinch, which led to the arrests on Dec. 8-9.

The following were arrested and charged in connection with Operation Grinch:

• Demario Covington (aka booger), 31, possession with intent to distribute crack and proximity of school, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and proximity of playground
• Katari Miller Leake, 32, possession with intent to distribute crack and proximity of playground, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and proximity of playground and failure to stop on command
• Anthony Mark Campbell, 32, distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• ToEugeneugne Foster, 54, possession of a controlled substance and obstruction of passage
• Valente Javon Williams, 23, two counts of distribution of crack and distribution crack in proximity of school, three counts distribution of marijuana and three counts of distribution marijuana in proximity of school
• Lori Ann Davis, 38, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute in proximity of school
• Cornellius Brown, two counts distribution of crack, possession of crack, two counts of distribution crack with in proximity of school (from 2006)
• Jerrica Chante Gillespie, 23, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana with in proximity of playground
• Patrick Antonio Covington, 30, three counts distribution of crack, three counts dist of crack in proximity of school
• Allen Michael Adams, 22, two counts of distribution of marijuana, two counts distribution in proximity of school,possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in proximity of school
• Dorothy Thomas, 30, two counts distribution of crack, two counts distribution of crack in proximity of school, possession with intent to distribute crack and proximity of school
• Michael Anthony Pouncy, 35, distribution of crack and proximity of school
• Sheddrick Shandal Mclean (aka boss, 28, two counts distribution of crack, distribution of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• David Liles, 24, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and proximity of playground, failure to stop on command

According to investigators, the operation began more than nine months before the arrest. Undercover detectives purchased marijuana crack cocaine and search warrants executed over the past two days.

The areas of the county targeted were the "Shady Rest Area" of Bennettsville that includes First, Second, Third and Fourth Avenues. Other areas of investigation included the "Firestone" area of Bennettsville, off the 15-401 Bypass, including State, McArthur and Union Streets, as well as other streets in that area.

These areas were of great concern to the task force and the subject of numerous complaints to both departments.

The task force executed search warrants at Second and Fourth Avenues and McArthur, Union, Spencer and NortEverettte Streets in Bennettsville. According to investigations, the home on Second Avenue was the subject of a previous search by the task force and at that time the residents were operating an illegal store. At that time food, drinks, candy, alcohol were seized and on this search warrant, the same items were seized.

Detectives say the residents were still operating this store and selling drugs out the residence and were all arrested.

The search warrant on McArthur Street resulted in close to one pound omarijuanana being seized. The search warrant on Union Street resulted in more than 50 bags of marijuana seized and a handgun.

The "Up East" area of Bennettsville was also targeted, including NortEverettte and Cook Streets, as well as others in the area.

More arrests are expected.

The Bennettsville Police Department Special Operations team and the Sheriff's Office bloodhound tracking team participated in the search warrants, with assistance from Cheraw Police Department investigations unit and K9.

"We are as determined to arrest, investigate and suppress drug activity in this city and county as the drug dealers are to sell it" said Marlboro County Lt. Jamie Seales. "We hope the message is clear that county and city lines don't exist in Marlboro County when it comes to selling illegal narcotics."

Bennettsville Police Sgt. Larry Turner added, "The Bennettsville Police Department hopes the message is clear drug sales in the city will be investigated and arrests will be made. Operation Grinch was executed to hopefully give the law abiding citizens a peaceful Christmas and spoil it for our Drug dealers. We also encourage any calls and information from the public about drug sales."

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