Task Force arrests eight
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 11, 2005
The Selma Times-Journal
A heating and air conditioning business was the alleged location of a methamphetamines laboratory, according to Dallas County officials.
Executing a search warrant on Friday, officials said they found items used to make methamphetamines, several hunting rifles, a shotgun, hundreds of rounds of ammo and three large bags of marijuana at Strickland Enterprises, located on 1899 Landline Road.
Tucker, along with Deputy John Hatfield, Investigator Mike Grantham, Selma Police Lt. Webber, ABC agent Steven Tidwell, DTF agent Larry Colston, executed the search warrant.
William Troy Strickland, 40, and John Allen Fancher, 43, were arrested in the case.
Strickland was charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. Fancher was charged with unlawful manufacture and possession of marijuana as well. Strickland was assigned a $40,000 bond. Fancher was assigned $30,500.
Tucker said the DTF has worked the case for over a year.
Sheriff Harris Huffman said his office has been working on the case for a while also.
Both Tucker and Huffman said the location of the suspected lab was unusual.
Under federal law, property used in the drug trade can be confiscated and used to fund enforcement efforts, he said.
Tucker said the case could get bigger because of the weapons found at the business.
Despite the firearms, Tucker said neither of the suspects resisted.
Tucker said the case was still under investigation.
According to Tucker, it was the second arrest the DTF has made in as many months.
Last month Colston, along with the Greensboro Police Department, made five drug related arrests, seizing $75,000-$100,000 in cocaine – about 25 ounces – in Hale County.
DTF agents and Greensboro police arrested Deronta Skipper, Kendrick Watford, Leslie Jane Watford, Jabbar Johnson and Randy Warren.
Skipper was charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Kentrick was charged with trafficking. Leslie was charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession. Johnson and Warren was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
Skipper was also found with a 9 mm handgun Colston said.
Skipper was assigned a $250,000 bond in the case.
In an unrelated case, Colston also arrested Dendrick Roberts in Hale County, with the help of the GPD. Roberts was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
He will be charged with felony possession of a firearm for the automatic Tech 9 mm handgun authorities say they found on him.
Roberts had $19,750 in his possession when he was arrested Colston said.