UPDATE: Opelika police executing search warrant in area of Martin Luther King Blvd.
OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - According to officials, Opelika Police were executing a search warrant in the area of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Magnolia Street, at approximately 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.
For some time now, the Opelika Narcotics Unit has been investigating illegal drug activity in the city, arresting 14 individuals over the course of the last 3 weeks.
10 of those people arrested Wednesday during a raid at the Neighborhood Market where a lot of customers were confused on why it was closed for several hours Thursday.
“I had no idea. I came up here to get my Venom drink, it’s like an energy drink, and I couldn’t even get it here, so, I got to go somewhere else now,” says Opelika resident Kimberly Chandler. Chandler goes to the market quite often.
“I come here pretty often. I mean it’s like or twice at least because I come over here and get drinks and stuff for my granny, but I never knew stuff like that was happening. It’s so crazy to find out,” says Chandler.
What she found out was the Opelika Police Department along with Lee County SWAT team were at the Neighborhood Market to execute a search warrant after getting complaints about drugs allegedly being sold and illegal gambling happening inside. During the search, Detectives recovered illegal drugs, guns and gambling devices.
Ten men and women between the ages of 32 and 66 were arrested on the scene February 1.
61-year-old Lottie Yancy, 39-year-old Lacey Lewis, 55-year-old Tyrone Warren Vasser and 66-year-old Marvin Fuller were arrested for simple gambling.
56-year-old Bruce perry and 65-year-old Robert Minnifield both arrested for outstanding warrants.
Along with simple gambling charges, several other people were charged with possession of a controlled substance, that list includes 32-year-old Jamarcus Greathouse, 64-year-old Andrea Ferguson , and 44-year-old Natasha Thomas and 57-year-old Ricky Still.
Wednesday’s arrests are a small part in city’s efforts to get drugs off the streets. Police say recent drug arrests include individuals who had large amounts of drugs laced with fentanyl--one of the leading factors in the rise of drug overdose.
On January 20, 41-year-old Kevin Lee Bulger was arrested for Drug Trafficking (Cocaine), Drug Trafficking (Fentanyl), Drug Trafficking (Opiates), Certain Persons forbidden to Possess a Pistol, Possession of Marijuana, First Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Attempting to Elude, and Resisting Arrest.
A week later on January 27, 73-year-old William Earl Kindred was arrested on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and three outstanding felony warrants.
January 31, 33-year-old Lamond Lopaze Dowdell, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana, First Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Attempting to Elude
February 2, 53-year-old James Nathan Henderson was arrested on a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
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