Izard County drug sweep nets several more arrests

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The Izard County Sheriff’s Department has had a busy week, netting several more felony drug arrests. The department has been working with members of the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game and Fish, Arkansas Department of Correction and the Independence County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Earnie Blackley says deputies initiated a traffic stop Sunday at State Highway Five and 56 on a blue van with a tail light out. The driver of the vehicle, 49-year-old Bobby Gray of Oxford, was arrested for a suspended driver’s license. The passenger of the vehicle, 50-year-old Russell Blevins of Violet Hill, was arrested on a warrant out of Fulton County.

After the arrests a K9 search was performed on the vehicle and 13 grams of crystal like substance, believed to be methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia, was located. Both Gray and Blevins were transported to the Izard County Detention Center and placed on a CID hold pending formal charges. They were ultimately charged with possession of controlled substance with purpose to deliver methamphetamine and two possession of drug paraphernalia charges. The are being held on a $25,000 bond.

On Friday 60-year-old Ronnie James Staggs of Pineville was arrested at his residence. Staggs was charged with three felony counts of delivery of methamphetamine along with a proximity-enhanced felony. Staggs is incarcerated in the Izard County Detention Center in lieu of two $50,000 bonds.

At the time Staggs was arrested at his residence officers located a small amount of crystalline substance which was later identified as methamphetamine. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and four more additional drug related charges were filed including possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia,maintaining a drug premise, and use or possession of a prohibited weapon, a sawed off shotgun. He was also charged with felony simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Bond on the new charges was set at $50,000.00.

Last Wednesday, a search warrant was also executed on Sherman Gayle Horner’s residence in Horseshoe Bend. Horner was charged with two felony counts of delivery of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a drug premises, possession of controlled substance with purpose to deliver, and unlawful use of a communication device. Horner was incarcerated in the Izard County Detention Center in lieu of a $25,000 bond.

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