By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A joint traffic detail conducted across the city Friday night, February 22, and into Saturday by Atmore police and Escambia County deputies resulted in the arrests of numerous individuals on various drug possession or trafficking charges, as well as the location of two people who were the subject of outstanding warrants.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said city patrol officers and investigators, along with county deputies, carried out the operation during the early evening hours of Friday and continued after midnight.
“The extra help was great,” Brooks said. “That way, we were able to carry out the special detail and still handle all our regular calls.”
He said the operation was a mobile one, that no “roadblocks” or license checks were carried out and no individuals or areas were targeted.
“It was all rolling,” he said. “Our officers and the deputies were looking for violations, from speeding to equipment violations and other moving violations. When they saw a violation, the person was pulled over. Basically, it was all over the city. We had stops on Highway 21, Highway 31, McRae Street and several other city streets.”
No ages or cities of residence were noted, but a press release issued Tuesday morning by Brooks shows that two arrests were made for drug trafficking.
Aaron Lambeth was arrested for trafficking in methamphetamine, and Joshua Hall was charged with several drug violations, including trafficking in codeine. Hall was also charged with one count each of first-degree possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
Others arrested for drug-related crimes were:
William K. Cheeks — possession of a controlled substance (kratom).
Bethany Brooke Dumas — possession of a controlled substance. (methamphetamine); possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jerrell Johnson — possession of a controlled substance. (methamphetamine); possession of drug paraphernalia.
Christopher Moore — first-degree possession of marijuana.
Roy Sanders — warrant, Baldwin County.
Frank Gulley — 2 warrants, Escambia County.
Brooks said the success of last weekend’s operation could prompt more such cooperative efforts.
“From time to time we try to do details like this,” he said. “I think it’s a great thing that helps keep our city safer.”