Jackson County makes Valentine drug busts

Friday, February 15, 2013

Eight people were arrested on drug charges in two Valentine's Day raids in Jackson County, Ala., authorities said.

The first was on state Highway 71 in Rosalie, Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said in a news release. Officers looking for someone on outstanding arrest warrants entered a home and found methamphetamine, part of a meth lab, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, he said.

Dennis Eric Thornhill, 23, of Pisgah; Matthew Edward Sargent, 19, of Rainsville; and Matthew Ryan Wallace, 24, of Pisgah, each were charged with unlawful manufacturing and possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. Thornhill also was charged with possession of marijuana, Harnen said.

The second bust was at a home on Pace Drive in the Skyline community. Officers armed with a search warrant found methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and unprescribed prescription medication, Harnen said.

Those arrested were Kenneth Dean Smith, 49, of Estill Fork; Michael Monroe Medley, 58, of Skyline; Randall Craig Brooks, 44, of Skyline; Nicole Christine Blackmon, 35, of Scottsboro; and Melissa Ann Jent, 33, of Estill Fork.

All were charged with possessing meth, marijuana, paraphernalia and prescription medications.

Jent also was charged with promoting prison contraband after corrections deputies found her with banned items during a jail search.

No bond had been set for any of the suspects as of Friday afternoon, Harnen said.