Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested nine people on an array of drug charges and are seeking three more as part of an operation nicknamed “Up to Snow Good.”
According to Sheriff Berkley Hall, the roundup targeted Marion County drug dealers and others found to be in possession of narcotics.
“We had some first-time sellers,” Hall said. “There are new players in the game. They have been selling and got caught. We did this roundup, and there are more to come. If you choose to sell dope and sell to just anybody and everybody, you never know when we’re going to find you.”
Deputies began early Saturday morning and served a search warrant at 2210 Mississippi 13 South in Columbia, which yielded more than a pound and a half of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and firearms.
The resident, Bernard Smith, 52, of Columbia, was placed into custody on multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm and two counts of sale or transfer of a controlled substance.
Also arrested during the weekend roundup were:
• Edward Lee Forbes Jr., 45, of Columbia for sale or transfer of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a church.
• Karen Allen, 56, of Foxworth, for sale or transfer of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a church.
• Ollie Dillon, 36, of Kokomo, for two counts of sale or transfer of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a park.
• Steve W. Taylor, 50, of Columbia, for sale or transfer of a controlled substance.
• Jarvis Rodricks Cortez Conerly, 27, of Kokomo, for two counts of sale or transfer of a controlled substance.
• Petcorrus Darmarkus McLendon, 22, of Columbia, for two counts of sale or transfer of a controlled substance.
• Kelly Sones, 44, of Poplarville, for possession of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Deputies arrested Quitman Smith, 21, of Columbia on Tuesday morning, and he’s charged with two counts of sale/manufacture of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I-II drug.
Deputies are still seeking several people with warrants in connection with the current roundup including Andrew Holmes of Foxworth, Tajuan Kendricks of Columbia and Casey Jones of Foxworth.
Hall asked anyone with information on them or information or any other drug information to contact the MCSO at (601) 736-5051.
“We’ve got them on the list,” he said. “They just may as well come on in and turn themselves in. They’re caught; they might as well come in and face the consequences.
“We had a roundup just a few months ago, now we’ve had this one and we’re going to have more in the future. The drug problem isn’t going away. Too many people want the easy street, to sit around and sell dope and not pay taxes and ruin people’s lives. It’s our job to try and hinder it. We’re going to do our best to do that.”
Hall left a warning to other dealers in Marion County.
“You’ve got to sit out there wondering are you going to be next?” he said. “If you’re dealing dope, sooner or later, your luck is going to run out. Just be prepared to face the consequences.”
