PAGE 8 April 2022
Four Arrested For Drugs Near Fyffe School
Man Charged With Manslaughter Hit-and Run Claims Life of 14-year-old was reportedly hit from behind. The incident
By Brandon K. Pierce Alabama Ledger A 22-year-old Sylvania man has been arrested following a hit-run-accident that claimed the life of 14-year-old Harley Lasseter. According to a press release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), State Troopers arrested Tyler Blaise Wilbanks, age 22 of Sylvania, on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Wilbanks was arrested in Pell City and charged with Manslaughter and a Felony Leaving the Scene of an Accident (LSA). Wilbanks was the driver of a 2016 Chevy Equinox
Police Department, Fort Payne Police Department, Geraldine Police Department and The Center for Applied Forensics assisted in the arrest. "Again, I have to commend our investigators and all the agencies that came together to resolve this case so quickly after it had occurred just Saturday night. Also, please keep the victim's family in your prayers as they continue to grieve," added Sheriff Welden. Nothing further is available as Troopers with ALEA Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the incident.
occurred on Highway 75 about three miles south of Geraldine. "We were proud to assist ALEA in this investigation, said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “In our county tonight there is a family that is missing a loved one. While we can never take away their pain, at least they can rest knowing justice will be served." The Dekalb County DA's Office, Dekalb County Sheriff's Office, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, Rainsville Police Department, Albertville
By Brandon K. Pierce Alabama Ledger Four men are in jail after authorities discover drugs being sold near a DeKalb County School. According to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden, Narcotics Agents, deputies and officers with the Fyffe Police Department recently executed a search warrant at a residence on Hammonds Road in Fyffe after receiving information about drugs being sold near the school. During the course of the investigation, authorities found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and arrested the following four individuals. Johnny Martin, age 69 of Fyffe, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jordan Michael Brown, age 19 of Fyffe, was charged with Loitering. Joseph Michael Higgins, age 44 of Valley Head, was charged with Unlawful
Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Theft of Property 4th, Theft of Property 2nd (x2), and Burglary 3rd (x3). John Roy Mulligan, age 55 of Sylvania was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2) and Driving While Revoked. “It truly takes a village to raise a child. This is a prime example of how true those words are. We all want our children to grow up in a safe, healthy and loving environment, but that would never be possible, without the people in the community stepping up and stepping in,” said Welden. “I want to thank the public for all you do and for the tips you provide us. It takes all of us, from law enforcement to concerned citizens to keep our children safe,” he added.
Tyler Wilbanks
that fatally injured Lasseter on Saturday, April 2, when the 9th Grade Geraldine student’s Honda Motorcycle
High Speed Chase, Drugs, and Brass Knuckles Lead to Arrests
By Brandon K. Pierce Alabama Ledger
Authorities in DeKalb County have reported multiple arrests since stepping up patrols in an effort they believe will help to keep roadways and communities safer. “Everyday the criminal element travels through our communities on our roadways, driving right by children playing, and our homes. I’m very thankful for those that put in the extra effort to patrol our roads and let these criminals know that it will not be tolerated in this county,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “Our citizens shouldn’t have to worry about impaired drivers while running errands, going to work, or taking the kids to school,” said Sheriff Welden. One of the recent arrests was made following on a High-Speed chase on March 16, 2022. The DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop on County Road 197 and Lacy Road in Henagar. Initially the driver pulled to the side of the road, but as the agent was approaching the vehicle, the driver sped away. The driver led the agent on a high-speed chase that lasted approximately 20 minutes, nearly hitting several vehicles and wrecking on County Road 183 in Jackson County. Zackery Blake Laney, age 34 of Sylvania, was charged with Attempt to Elude, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Promote Prison Contraband 3rd. Laney also received charges related to violating his federal probation. On March 18, a DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent was conducting a routine patrol on County Road 134 near Henagar when he stopped a suspicious vehicle. Both the driver and passenger were found to have active warrants with other agencies. After the warrants were confirmed and the subjects were placed under arrest, Officers and Agents located drug paraphernalia, over 6 grams of methamphetamine, and two grams of marijuana. They also found a rifle that had been sawed off, as well as had the serial number removed. Samuel McMullins, age 21 of Dutton, and Ashley Rogers, age 29 of Fort Payne, were both arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Sawed-off Rifle/ Shotgun. On March 21, 2022, DeKalb County Narcotics Agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on County Road 411 near Grove Oak. The vehicle failed to follow the agent’s commands, leading to a brief pursuit at low speed. The vehicle would eventually stop at the intersection of County Roads 411 and 356. While searching the vehicle, Agents located methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm. The driver, Eric Gant, age 36 of Fort Payne, was arrested and charged with Attempting to Elude, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Investigators were also called to the scene to check for stolen property. Also, on March 21, Narcotics Agents conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle on Highway 75 in Rainsville. While conducting a search, Agents located brass knuckles on the subject. A further search revealed Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia. The suspect, Joshua Anderson, age 45 of Fyffe, was arrested and charged with Unlawful
DRUGS SEIZED NEAR KILPATRICK The DeKalb County Narcotics Unit, ALEA Region F Narcotics Task Force, and U.S. Postal Inspectors worked together after a suspicious package was seized to make drug arrest near Kilpatrick at a residence on County Road 479. During the execution of the search warrant, over 2 pounds of marijuana and 400 grams of THC vape cartridges were located. A firearm was also seized. According to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden, Juan Miquel Juan, age 29 of Albertville, was arrested and charged for Trafficking in Any Illegal Drug - Marijuana. He was booked into the DeKalb County Detention Center on a $60,000 bond. “While usually we intercept drug traffickers on our highways, in the modern era, some illegal narcotics transactions happen online with mail being the means of delivery," said Welden. FOUR ARRESTED FOR NARCOTICS Four Jackson County men are in federal custody after being indicted and arrested on charges related to trafficking narcotics. The DeKalb County Narcotics Unit, along with the FBI’s Northeast Alabama Criminal Enterprise Task Force, worked a long narcotics investigation into illicit drug trafficking that concluded after all the subjects were indicted in federal court. According to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden, those arrested include: David Ray Cisco, age 49 of Dutton; Charles Edward Matchen Jr., age 49 of Pisgah; Randy Tidwell, age 60 of Bridgeport; and Gary Chambless, age 38 of Scottsboro were all indicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Distribute/Possession with intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and multiple counts of Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. All four individuals have been turned over to the U.S. Marshalls Service. The indictments were obtained by an FBI Task Force officer assigned locally to the DeKalb County Narcotics Unit. METH AND MARIJUANAARRESTS Two Crossville men are facing charges after the DeKalb County Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant near Kilpatrick, which resulted in dismantling a marijuana grow operation and the discovery of a large amount of methamphetamine. According to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden, authorities found a Half Pound of Meth, 191 Marijuana Plants, and Marijuana Oil on County Road 8. Arrested on the scene were Stanley Bruce, age 53 of Crossville and Gary Plunkett, age 56 of Crossville. Both men were charged with Trafficking in Any Illegal Drug - Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Any Illegal Drug - Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Photo Courtesy DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Items found during a recent incident
Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Carrying Brass Knuckles. On March 26, a DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent received information regarding a burglary that had occurred the previous day in Leesburg. The agent was able to locate one of the suspects on County Road 958 in Deer Head Cove, near the Georgia line. The suspect, Ronald Character, age 35 of Flat Rock, was arrested and charged the following week in Cherokee County with Receiving Stolen Property 2nd Degree (x2), Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, Theft of Property 1st Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft of Property - Firearm. Another subject on scene, Scotty Cuzzort, age 41 of Cloudland, GA,) was found to have an outstanding warrant with the Ider Police Department and was also arrested. A traffic stop on Highway 68 near Kilpatrick and the Marshall County line on March 27, resulted in a drug arrest. Authorities found the suspect in possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine. Daniel Scott Bearden, age 38 of Albertville, was arrested and charged with Possession with intent to Distribute - Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Another drug arrest was made following traffic stop on County Road 479 near Kilpatrick on March 28, 2022. During the stop, deputies found that the occupants of the vehicle were in possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, marijuana edibles, an undisclosed amount of currency, and a handgun. The suspects, Patrick Hendrickson, age 30 of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, and Nicholas Roberts, age 29 of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, were both arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 1st Degree and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A traffic stop near the intersection of Fruit Farm and Adamsburg Roads in Fort Payne on March 31, 2022 also resulted in drug charges after authorities located drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. Gerald Collins, age 61 of Fort Payne, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. EDITORS NOTE: Anyone listed above who is charged with a criminal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a of court law.
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