Eleven arrested in drug roundup - The Daily News

A Washington Parish woman who returned to her residence Thursday to find a yard full of sheriff's deputies in the midst of a drug roundup was arrested as she attempted to flee, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley.

Ten more of the 16 suspected drug dealers were found at their homes, and the search goes on for the remaining five, he said.

Deputies from the narcotics and patrol divisions of the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, plus Sheriff Randy Seal and Haley, gathered in Franklinton Thursday morning then dispersed, with the 16 warrants in hand.

The suspects had been identified by the sheriff's Drug Task Force, which also includes a Franklinton Police officer, during a five-month investigation.

Those arrested and their charges are:

David Burch, Avenue I, Bogalusa, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Melissa Durr, Little Branch Road, Franklinton, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Aderol

Angela M. Lot, Twin Oaks Road, Franklinton, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Chelsea Owens, Cherry Adams Street, Franklinton, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Jeff Schillings, Pleasant Hill Road, Mt. Hermon, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Jennifer Smith, P. Spencer Road, Franklinton, two counts of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Kim Spears, Highway 438, Franklinton, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Bruce Williams, Highway 438, Franklinton, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Kiniaki Williams, Bene Street, Franklinton, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-crack cocaine

Krishun Williams, Carolina Avenue, Bogalusa, one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

Brian Wood, Elton Wood Road, Tylertown, Miss., one count of distribution of a schedule II narcotic-Roxycotin

The 11 who were arrested were all put in the Washington Parish Jail with bonds set at $75,000. Ten remained there as of Friday afternoon, and one had been released on bond.

In the course of making the arrests, sheriff's deputies seized two SUVs, a Nissan Armada and a Land Rover, which will both be held as evidence, then "the courts will be asked to condemn them and transfer possession to the sheriff's office," Haley said.

He vowed that the remaining warrants would be served.

"Unfortunately, five of the drug dealers could not be located during the roundup, but we will apprehend them," Haley said. "Our deputies are on the lookout for them and we will get them sooner or later. They might run for a while but they can't hide forever. We'll find them.

"Washington Parish has a big pill problem and we intend to dismantle it, one dealer at a time."

Seal said the war on drugs is back on with a vengeance in Washington Parish.

"This is what it is all about – putting criminals behind bars where they belong," he said. "Narcotics enforcement had been suspended when I took office as your sheriff. One of my first acts was to reinstate the Drug Task Force and to start tracking those who sell drugs to our children and others.

"This roundup is not the end of our efforts to fight the drug trade in Washington Parish. It's just the beginning. If you are in the business of selling drugs, you will eventually be in handcuffs. It's just a matter of time. Our evidence against these drug dealers is strong. They will be prosecuted and they will pay the penalty for their criminal activity."