Armed with arrest warrants against 24 people, local law enforcement officers began raiding the streets of Newberry this morning looking for suspects in drug related crimes.
"Just after 9 a.m. this morning, officers from the Newberry County Sheriff's Office, Newberry Police Department, Whitmire Police Department, and State Law Enforcement Division began serving arrest warrants on the 23 suspects for their involvement with illegal drugs," said Sheriff Lee Foster. "By lunch, 16 of those offenders were already in custody with officers searching for more. "
The officers had arrest warrants charging the offenders with a total of 19 counts of distribution of crack cocaine, 12 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within the proximity of a school or park, two counts of conspiracy, and 13 counts of illegally obtaining prescriptions.
Foster said that the arrests came at the end of long and detailed investigation. The investigation has been ongoing for about a year.
The investigation primarily focused on the Helena and Whitmire sections of the county; however, officers say arrests are throughout the county are expected.
"The citizens of these communities have a strong desire and commitment to make their homes and families safe from those who choose to use and sell illegal drugs," said Foster. "It is our desire to work in these communities to assure them that we will not only join them in this fight, but are prepared to lead the battle against illegal drugs so that they and their families can feel safe and secure."
Foster thanked the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office for its participation in the investigation.
Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler said, "Obviously law enforcement agencies in Newberry County continue to work closely together. We appreciate the citizens who call and inform us about drugs and other illegal activity in their communities. Most people understand that many crimes are a direct result of illegal drugs, as people steal and commit other crimes to supply and support their drug addiction. While these investigations take time, rest assured our intention to make each community better and safer."
Foster said that a number of these cases involve what is commonly known as "doctor shopping." This occurs when suspects go to more than one doctor for the same condition to fraudulently receive controlled substances. The prescriptions are often in addition to ones they are already receiving. The suspects then may often abuse the controlled substances, or illegally sell the additional drugs.
Foster said that his agency has worked closely with the Department of Health and Environmental Control in the investigation, and that there continues to be a steady rise in the number of cases that both agencies are investigating.
"This is rapidly becoming an epidemic," said Foster. "Due to an increased enforcement against street drugs, prescription drugs are becoming a choice for drug dealers and drug abusers."
Foster said that looking for abusers and illegal sellers of prescription drugs forced officers to form a very different type of investigation than they typically do in the case of illegal street drugs.
"These investigations are extremely time consuming for the investigators," said Foster. "and what is worse, many of the suspects receive government assistance such as Medicaid to pay for some of the prescriptions. The taxpayer faces the double burden of paying for the drugs, and then paying for the investigation to catch the suspect. Our goal is to stop this in order to be a good steward of the taxpayers' money and protect our community."
"We are grateful to the Newberry County Sheriff's Office for working with us to rid Whitmire of drugs," said Whitmire Police Chief Jeremiah Sinclair. "We must continue to work together if are going to make our community better and send a clear message to the drug dealers that you will be caught and prosecuted."
Foster noted the number of offenders who were charged with second or third offense distribution of drugs in this roundup.
"It is concerning to me that these offenders who continually sell illegal drugs even after they are arrested and convicted," said Foster. "They seem to return to the same community doing the same thing over and over again. It becomes very frustrating to the community and to law enforcement to see these repeat offenders, especially when nearly everyone knows exactly what they are doing.
"While these investigations take time, we want the citizens of these and all communities to know that we share in your frustration and are working as quickly and diligently as possible to continue to remove these drug dealers and users from your streets."
Foster said that more arrests are expected as the investigation continues to grow.
He added that other than the two men charged with conspiracy, there was no indication that these suspects were acting collectively.
Those arrested include:
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