The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office arrested 13 people as part of a methamphetamine distribution investigation that they've run all year.
According to a release from the department, detectives started investigating Michael Wade for selling "large quantities" of the drug in December. The county's narcotics unit believed Wade, 48, of Dalton, was the leader of an operation.
For the next six months, according to the release, undercover officers bought drugs from Wade and identified other people involved in his operation. They began making arrests Wednesday, and they were still trying to find four other people this morning.
The sheriff's office charged Wade with sale of methamphetamine, conspiracy to sell controlled substances and use of a communication device for drug transactions. Others arrested include:
- Misty Dawn Southern, 37: conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Charles Justin Davenport, 30: possession of methamphetamine, possession of a schedule four narcotic, possession of a schedule two narcotic, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Matthew Howard Sweat, 38: possession of a schedule two narcotic, possession of a schedule four narcotic, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Gordon Patrick Livingston, 53: possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Kevin Charles Turner, 33: conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Perry Collins Davis Jr., 61: conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Michael Harris Johnson, 56: possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Aaron Chadwick Pickel, 45: conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- David Webster Newberry, 47: conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Terri Lachaun Davenport, 47: conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Teddy Mitchell Blassingame, 52: possession of methamphetamine, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, use of a communication device to facilitate a drug transaction.
- Laura Ann Osorio, 32: possession of methamphetamine, possession of tools for the commission of a crime.