WPD arrests 11 on drug trafficking warrants
An early morning search by Winchester Police led to 11 arrests on drug trafficking charges, but police say it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Winchester Police Capt. James Hall said the arrests were the result of a six-month investigation by detectives within the department focusing on heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine. In all, they hope to arrest 80, including 32 who were arrested previously, he said.
“We have the warrants we served today and about 40 more to serve,” Hall said. “We’re trying to case as wide a net as we can to get as many drug dealers as we can.”
Almost all the people arrested are individual dealers, he said.
While there were a few marijuana-related charges, fentanyl, heroin and meth were the targets.
“Unfortunately we’re dealing with an uptick in meth use and trafficking, and an increase in fentanyl use,” Hall said.
No one, he said, seems to be making meth locally, because the market has been flooded with meth from Mexico. Prices are low, so buying is cheaper than making it, he said.
Tuesday’s warrants were the starting point. Hall said detectives have about 30 more warrants in hand, and will present about 10 more cases to the grand jury in December.
“We’ve gone out and beat the bushes on the first round of locations,” Hall said. “We’ll go out and hit a second round of locations. We’ll keep going until we have everyone in custody.”
The following people were arrested Tuesday morning:
— Traci Wiseman, 34, first-degree trafficking in heroin, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
— John Cross, 44, first-degree trafficking in marijuana
— Larry Christopher, 44, first-degree trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in fentanyl.
— Tiffany Smith (Combs), 33, trafficking in methamphetamine (two counts).
— Angelia Abbot, 39, trafficking in heroin, second-degree persistent felony offender.
— Michael Johnson, 39, trafficking in heroin (two counts), trafficking in fentanyl.
— Joshua Saylor, 32, trafficking in methamphetamine, second-degree persistent felony offender.
— Stephanie Eversole, 37, trafficking in methamphetamine.
— Alexssandra Chenault, 28, trafficking in cocaine.
— Tammy Gross, 43, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance – opiates (two counts).
— Hurbert Fee, 57, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance – opiates (two counts).
The following people were previously arrested.
– Malik Kenny, 21, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (three counts), third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
— Tyler Abney, 27, trafficking in methamphetamine, second-degree fleeing or evading police.
— Cassie Gonzalez, 33, first-degree trafficking in methamphetamine.
— Wes PErkins, 26, trafficking in heroin (three counts), trafficking in fentanyl (two counts).
— Henry Bates, 28, trafficking in methamphetamine (four counts).
— Justin Byrd, 23, trafficking in marijuana (three counts).
— Matthew Willoughby, 25, trafficking in fentanyl (two counts).
— Phillip Hacker, 53, first-degree trafficking in heroin (four counts).
— Lindsey Rogers, 25, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in fentanyl (four counts).
— Bradley Mudd, 32, trafficking in heroin (two counts).
— Ethan Berryman, 26, trafficking in cocaine (six counts).
— Dayquan Johnson, 22, trafficking in heroin.
— Dejon Johnson, no age given, trafficking in heroin, importing heroin.
— Melissa Shortridge, 34, trafficking in heroin, importing heroin.
— Jeff Thornberry, 53, trafficking in heroin (three counts), trafficking in methamphetamine.
— Billy Greene, 52, trafficking in methamphetamine (two counts), resisting arrest.
— Caleb Robinson, 28, trafficking in a simulated controlled substance.
— Nash Robinson, 22, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana (two counts).
— Devin Tays, 26, trafficking in heroin (two counts).
— Jessica Smith, no age given, first-degree trafficking in heroin (three counts), trafficking in a controlled substance – opiates.
— Zach Whalen, 23, trafficking in fentanyl (three counts), persistent felony offender.
— Billy Brogli, 31, trafficking in heroin (two counts), trafficking in fentanyl (three counts), trafficking in methamphetamine (three counts), trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
— Rose Smith 38, trafficking in heroin (four counts).
— Yvonne Sellars, 50, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in heroin.
— Jamie Sosby, 33, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in a simulated controlled substance.
— Austin Stevens, 26, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamine.
— Eric Stephens, 29, trafficking in heroin (three counts), trafficking in methamphetamine (two counts).
— Kerry Parker, 36, trafficking in cocaine.
— Scotty Christopher, 48, trafficking in heroin (six counts), trafficking in methamphetamine (eight counts).
— Kyle Larrison, 30, trafficking in methamphetamine.
— Mark Wooten, 35, trafficking in heroin (three counts).
— Jordan Alvarez, 28, trafficking in methamphetamine.