Crystal Dawn CookThe DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is reporting five people arrested on drug charges over a couple day period in the county.
"We are still having to deal with meth labs but the majority of the methamphetamine we see now is coming from outside our area," said DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris, in a press release. "Northeast Alabama is being used as a distribution hub for the Cartels and we are working daily with our federal partners to curb this activity. As long as there is a demand for this drug they will try to get it here."
Timothy Brandon Richards, 31, was arrested June 3 after drug task force agents served a warrant at a residence on County Road 768 in Ider. Agents discovered Richards with a lab ready to start producing meth, drug paraphernalia and already produced methamphetamine. Additionally a small child was taken from the residence and placed with family members.
Richards is being held at the DeKalb County Detention Center on charges of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Samuel Edward Simpson II, 35, Brandy Nicole Rothell, 30, and Crystal Dawn Cook, 39, were arrested June 5 after Fort Payne Police officers responded to a noise complaint at an apartment in North Fort Payne.
Officers arrived at the apartment, found the door open and spoke with a person about the complaint. Drug evidence was visible in plain view from the door, and the suspect was detained when the apartment was searched. According to the release, officers found "a large amount of drugs," about $4,000 in cash, a rifle and a 9mm handgun.
Cook and Rothell were booked into the Fort Payne City Jail, but are expected to soon be moved to the DeKalb County Detention Center, where Simpson was first booked.
Additionally, Drug Task Force agents and Fort Payne police officers executed a search warrant on a South Fort Payne residence on June 5, that resulted in the discovery of cash, drug paraphernalia and over 50 grams of meth -- a street value of more than $5,000.
Norris Lee Norton, 54, was arrested on charges of the distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and is being held at the DeKalb County Detention Center.