Drug sweep nets 19 suspects

By John Estridge, Editor

Many times good policing is a result of public input.

Franklin County Sheriff Ken Murphy lauded praise on his deputies and other police agencies involved in a drug investigation that led to 19 arrests for a plethora of felony charges, but he said it was public input which spurred the cases.

“We’ve had great support from the public, and that is continuing, and these investigations are continuing,” Murphy said. “I can promise you with 100 percent certainty there is going to be some more arrests. And we’re going to keep working on this.”

According to Murphy, the investigation, which led to all the arrests, began almost immediately after he took office on Jan. 1, 2011.

“We started this 25 days after I took office,” Murphy said.

Based on his long tenure as a state excise police officer, Murphy said he was well aware of a drug problem in Franklin County.

“I’ve been doing drug investigations in the community for a long time, and I knew we had a problem,” Murphy said. “We hit the ground running.”

The investigation was headed up by one of Murphy’s deputies. However, that deputy would like to remain anonymous. Murphy did laud the deputy for a job well done.

Many times the police acted on drug tips supplied in many ways, including Franklin County Prosecutor Mel Wilhelm’s Drug Tip Hotline at (765) 647-0755.

“Mel’s tip line has been great,” Murphy said.

Callers can remain anonymous when they call that number.

According to Murphy, every time the investigation would slow, another call from the public would come in and spur the investigation onward.

“We hit a dry spell in February or March, and (the deputy) came to me saying ‘we don’t have anything going on,’” Murphy said. “I told him to be patient. Within two weeks, we had another tip, cooperation from the public, and we were back in business again.”

The tips from the various corners of the county led investigators to people who had not been investigated prior to the tip.

“Every person involved in drugs runs in different circles,” Murphy said. “So, when you get a new guy or a new gal that’s involved, it brings a whole new list of suspects, and you work them.”

It was a potpourri of drugs that were discovered during the lengthy investigation.

The drugs purchased by investigators during the investigation include: heroin, methamphetamine, Roxycontin, Oxycontin, Roxycodone, Soboxone, Adderral, Diazepam, Trazodone, Clonazepam and Xanax.

The arrests were not in one particular part of the county, but spread out over much of its geography.

Drugs were brought from Cincinnati into Cedar Grove and from Ripley County into the St. Peters area.

“This was a major drug sweep of the county, and it sends a message that we are not going to tolerate this,” Murphy said.

Murphy alleged one of those arrested, Marcus Linson, 34, Fairfield, Ohio, brought heroin into the county on four separate occasions. The last time this allegedly occurred was a few weeks ago when Linson was arrested. At that time, the police allege Linson brought the heroin to an individual in Cedar Grove who met him at the service station in town.

“We got him and his car,” Murphy said.

The investigation was part of the Franklin County Drug Task Force, which was formed in 2004. It consists of the FCSD, Batesville Police Department, Indiana State Police, Indiana Conservation Officers, Brookville Police Department and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.

Wilhelm assisted not only with the tips from the Drug Tip Hotline he hosts, but also he supplied the money to purchase the drugs.

Stayin’ Alive Local Coordinating Council provided grant money to cover additional man hours used in the investigation.

Some people were picked up prior to Thursday’s roundup. At least one person heard about the warrants and turned herself in.

But 14 people were arrested Thursday, July 19, in an early morning roundup.

“Shortly before daylight, officers began rounding up suspects,” FCSD Sgt. Jason Lovins said in a press release. “By 8:30 a.m., all the suspects were in custody.”

Arrested and their charges are:

Jerry L. Stone, 25, Ind. 229, Metamora, Dealing in a narcotic drug (heroin), as a class B felony; Dealing in a Schedule III controlled substance, as a class B felony.

Marcus D. Linson, 34, Southgate Boulevard, Fairfield, Ohio, three counts of Dealing in a narcotic drug (heroin), as class B felonies.

Travis R. Gabbard, 22, St. Mary’s Road, Brookville, two counts of Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies; and Theft, as a class D felony.

Alisha M. Gabbard, 27, Fairfield Avenue, Brookville, three counts of Dealing in a narcotic drug (heroin), as class A felonies; one count as a class B felony.

Charles H. Rayburn, 33, U.S. 52, Laurel, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class B felony; and Maintaining a common nuisance, as a class D felony.

Jason E. Helms, 25, Ind. 252, Brookville, four counts of Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies; one count of Conspiracy to deal a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class B felony; three counts of Maintaining a common nuisance, as class D felonies.

Phyllis A Schmidt, 68, Ind. 252, Brookville, Conspiracy to deal in a controlled substance, as a class B felony.

Stacy L. Hess, 30, W. North Street, Greensburg, Dealing in methamphetamine, as a class B felony.

William G. Miller, 40, U.S. 52, Metamora, two counts of Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance; Maintaining a common nuisance, as a class D felony; Possession of paraphernalia, as a class A misdemeanor.

Freddie “Joe” Banks, 43, West Main Street, Laurel, three counts Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, three counts of Maintaining a common nuisance, as class D felonies.

Loretta G. Cooper, 47, Ind. 252, Brookville, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class D felony.

Bonny L. Johnson, 25, Snail Creek Road, Brookville, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class B felony; Maintaining a common nuisance, as a class D felony; Neglect of a dependant, as a class D felony; Possession of marijuana, as a class A misdemeanor; Possession of paraphernalia, as a class A misdemeanor.

Aaron West, 29, Snail Creek Road, Brookville, Neglect of a dependant, as a class D felony; Possession of marijuana, as a class A misdemeanor; and Possession of paraphernalia, as a class A misdemeanor.

Ricky M. Haffner, 53, Westview Road, Brookville, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class B felony.

Jamie L. Baker, 25, McGuire Ridge Road, Laurel, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class A felony; two counts of Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies; Dealing in a legend drug, as a class D felony.

Floyd E. Davidson, 30, McGuire Ridge Road, Laurel, two counts of Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies; and two counts of Conspiracy to deal in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies.

Michael R. Davidson, 26, McGuire Ridge Road, Laurel, two counts of Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies; and two counts of Conspiracy to deal in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies.

Wonda A. Dameron, 55, Co. Road 650 North, Milan, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy to deal in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies.

Katelyn J. Dameron, 24, Co. Road 650 North, Milan, Dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, as a class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy to deal in a Schedule II controlled substance, as class B felonies.

A person found guilty of a class A felony can receive 20 to 50 years in prison on each count. A class B felony conviction can result in a prison sentence between six and 20 years while a class D felony conviction can result in a prison sentence between six months and three years. A class A misdemeanor conviction can result in a sentence of up to one year in the Franklin County Security Center.

Murphy said more arrests are expected. This should also ease the amount of burglaries and thefts in the county.

“This is not a one shot deal,” Murphy said. “We will continue these things and be proactive and not reactive. I think this will stop a lot of the thefts. We can’t quit fighting.”

According to Murphy, the message should be loud and clear that people deal drugs in Franklin County at their own peril.

“We wanted to get the messages out to the public that, number one, we haven’t been sitting on our hands while all this has been going on with the drug issues,” Murphy said. “And, number two, if you’re dealing drugs in Franklin County, we’re going to be looking for you.”