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Meth Busts

Monday, 22 June 2009

Sheriff Randy Courson reports three significant drug cases in Echols County over the last month. Charles Pitts On May 24, 2009 at 11:16 a.m., an Echols County Deputy clocked a gray Dodge Ram running 82 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone on Hwy 129 South.  The deputy turned around to conduct a traffic stop, and the truck sped up to 110 miles per hour.  The deputy began pursuit.  An eleven-mile chase ended on Jessie Lane, and the deputy took three suspects into custody.  Inside the vehicle was a tank of anhydrous ammonia, which had been stolen from Florida.  The vehicle was intercepted in route back to Clinch County, where the suspects intended to cook a batch of Methamphetamine. The South Georgia Drug Task Force processed the scene and the anhydrous ammonia.  Brett Tucker The driver, Charles E. Pitts, 21, of Valdosta, was charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia, DUI, fleeing and attempting to elude police, reckless driving, weaving over roadway, too fast for conditions, three counts of speeding and littering. A passenger in the vehicle, Brett Tucker, 17, of Homerville, was charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia.  A juvenile was also in the vehicle.  Five days later, Brett Tucker was arrested again in Clinch County in a white Dodge Van containing anhydrous ammonia and other items used in making methamphetamine. David Higgins On May 20, 2009 at 10:20 a.m., on Hwy 129 North, an Echols County Deputy stopped a 1996 white Ford Ranger, which was traveling in the rain without headlights.  Noticing the driver’s nervous demeanor, the officer requested permission to search the vehicle.  As an explanation for his nervousness, the driver told the deputy he had an open container in his vehicle.  An Echols County K-9 unit conducted a K-9 sniff of the vehicle and alerted on it, indicating suspected narcotics.  A clear plastic bag of white powder was found during the subsequent search of the vehicle which field- tested positive for methamphetamine.  David Michael Higgins, 48, of Ocoee, FL, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), violation of headlight requirements in the rain and open container law. On June 3, 2009, the Echols County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office to assist in serving an arrest warrant at 1426 Sardis Church Road in Echols County.  The arrest warrant was for Leonard Bruce Cater, Jr., who was believed to be inside a mobile home located behind the primary Leonard Cater Jr residence.  Sheriff Randy Courson located suspected narcotics sitting on a plate, which field-tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana.  A search warrant was obtained for the remainder of the residence, which resulted in a substantial find of more methamphetamine, marijuana and pills.  Cater was later arrested on the initial warrant, and subsequent investigations led to additional charges.  Leonard Bruce Cater, Jr., 35, Lake Park, was charged by Echols County with Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to distribute (methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to distribute (marijuana), Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and Possession of a Controlled Substance (pills). Sheriff Courson stated that he is very pleased with his deputies and the arrests that followed their hard work.  He also said, “We will continue to make it our goal to alleviate the drug problem in our community, making it safer for everyone.  I would like to thank the Department of Natural Resources, Lanier County Sheriff’s Office, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the South Georgia Drug Task Force for their assistance and quick response times.”

Last Updated ( Monday, 22 June 2009 )

 

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