Several months of investigation by the Columbia Police Department led to the arrest of 14 Adair County residents Tuesday morning on trafficking charges of mainly crack cocaine and prescription drugs.
At daybreak on Tuesday morning officers assembled at the Jim Blair recreation center for an intelligence and safety briefing on the execution of 14 sealed indictments obtained by CPD officers through undercover drug operations.
During the dealer roundup, cash, multiple vehicles and additional narcotics were confiscated.
According to Chief Jason Cross, this is the beginning of Operation “Spring Cleaning” and more arrests will be following.
Those arrested were:
Sondra Campbell, 43, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 2nd degree and being a persistent felony offender; Charles Hughes, 45, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree; Beveraly Kuhn, 41, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 2nd degree; William Miller, 22, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree, possession of a controlled substance, 1st degree cocaine, possession of marijuana and promoting contraband.
Annette Leak, 55, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree; Robert Taylor, 55, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree, 2nd offense; Timothy Jones, 23, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree.
Deondrick Davis, 34, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree; Steven Smith, 27, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree; Jason Morgan, 23, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree; David Mclean, 56, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 2nd degree, being a persistent felony offender, 2nd degree and possession of a controlled substance, 2nd degree; Jennifer Melson, 37, charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, 2nd degree.
Jerry Kuhn, 42, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 2nd degree; Glen Morrison, 61, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree; and Fred Ennis Jr., 27, charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree.
Cross said that this was just the start of the operation and told citizens to expect many more arrests for the next few months.
“Today is the beginning of a new era in the Columbia Police Department’s effort to combat illegal drugs within our community,” Cross said.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Gail Williams said in a statement that he appreciated the city police department on taking a proactive stand on the drug problem in this area and that he wanted to assure citizens that the prosecutor’s office intends to aggressively peruse prosecution of these individuals and the growing problem with crack cocaine in this area and that he plans on coming down hard on persistent felony offenders.
Council member and mayoral candidate June Parson also commended the police department for its effort to combat illegal drug use.
“I would like to commend Chief Cross and the CPD on their continued efforts to eliminate the drug problem in our community,” said Parson. “Today’s activities have been very successful in helping them accomplish that goal and as a concerned citizen and council member I will continue to support the department in their battle against drugs.”
“We stand with the citizens of our community in understanding this drug problem is a problem that has to be dealt with head on,” said Cross, “and the Columbia Police Department is dealing with the problem in a proactive manner and we are proud to have the support of our mayor and council and know that they understand that this problem has wreaked havoc on our community for too long.”
By Toni Humphress
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