PROSPERITY — Complaints from the community and a months-long criminal investigation landed a Prosperity man in jail facing multiple drug charges.
A search warrant was served at 866 S. Main St. in Prosperity on Aug. 17. Once inside, the deputies with the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office located nearly 2 ounces of crack cocaine, nearly 1 gram of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.
Benjamin Chandler, 41, of 866 S. Main St. in Prosperity, was arrested without incident.
Chandler was charged with trafficking crack cocaine (third offense), possession of cocaine (third offense), trafficking crack cocaine within the proximity of a school or park, unlawful neglect of a child, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A 1-year-old child in the home at the time was turned over to the Department of Social Services.
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office had received several complaints from the community about drug activity, high traffic volume, and other illegal activity around the South Main Street home.
Based on those complaints, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation.
Foster said the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office used undercover officers to make crack cocaine buys then used that evidence to obtain a search warrant for the residence. Foster said the Newberry Police Department assisted with the investigation.
“We want the citizens of Newberry County to know that we hear them when they have concerns about their community,” said Foster. “The fact that this is the third offense for selling illegal drugs is very troubling. However, it is reprehensible to think that he would expose a small child to this dangerous activity. We cannot and will not stand for this as law enforcement and the community work together to make Newberry County better now and for the next generation.”