Law enforcement operations taking drugs off streets

By Kristin Edwards
Staff Reporter

May 08, 2008 11:38 pm

— Following two joint operations of the Walker County Sheriff’s Department and the University Police Department, the sheriff’s department estimated that five ounces of cocaine and almost one pound of marijuana was permanently removed from the streets of Huntsville.
The two operations, which have taken place within the last three weeks, also resulted in the arrests of John Carrington, 33, and a 33-year-old male whose identity is being temporarily withheld.
Both men were arrested in relation to state jail felony drug charges, and Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae said additional arrests of a similar nature may take place in the near future.
“The Walker County Sheriff’s Department conducted an undercover operation and a narcotics operation in a joint effort with the University Police Department,” he said. “Just after those two deals, we removed just under a pound of marijuana and approximately five grams of cocaine from the streets, and we’re in the process of making several more arrests.”
During the first operation, which took place on April 17, the sheriff’s department made contact with the unidentified male subject in reference to purchasing a quarter-pound of marijuana.
“The subject quoted a price of $150, and we then traveled to a location in the area of Vicki Lane to conduct the buy,” McRae said. “Upon arriving, the suspect delivered the marijuana and was arrested shortly thereafter.
“Once the individual was in custody, we also found an undisclosed quantity of crack cocaine on his person.”
McRae said the individual was charged with two state jail felonies, one for the delivery of marijuana and one for the possession of a controlled substance.
On April 21, McRae said the sheriff’s department conducted an undercover narcotics operation with the University Police Department which resulted in the arrest of Carrington.
“On this particular day, undercover officers observed Carrington leaving a high-traffic narcotics area in Huntsville,” he said. “Upon observing Carrington leaving the location, probable cause was developed, and a UPD patrol officer stopped his car, at which time Carrington appeared to be extremely nervous.
“After a few moments into the stop, the officer developed the probable cause necessary to search the vehicle, and during the search, UPD officers and officers from the sheriff’s department located eight ounces of marijuana and two grams of powder cocaine. For the possession of both the cocaine and the marijuana, Carrington was charged with two state jail felonies.”
McRae said related arrests may be made in the near future, and the success of the operations was due to a profitable working relationship between Walker County law enforcement organizations.
“Local law enforcement is continuously working to try to reduce narcotics activity within the community,” he said. “It’s because of the outstanding working relationship that exists between local law enforcement agencies that we have been able to accomplish a lot more than we might be able to otherwise.”