Five arrested as crackdown on drugs continues

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The Towns County Sheriff’s Office has continued to make good on their promise to pursue and arrest drug suspects within the jurisdiction. Traffic stops and a search warrant have produced drug arrests in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, a Towns County Sheriff’s Office deputy initiated a traffic stop on State Highway 288 in Hiawassee that resulted in a drug arrest. The deputy conducted the traffic stop on a Ford F-150 in the area of Shallow Creek Road. Upon investigation into a passenger in the vehicle, Chad Patterson, 41, of Hayesville, North Carolina was arrested on the following charges: 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Possession of Methamphetamine, 1 Count of Drug Related Objects, 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act
– Possession of Marijuana, 1 Count Open Container.

On Friday, Nov. 1, Towns County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on State Highway 76 in Young Harris on a Pontiac Grand Am. Upon further investigation, the passenger in the vehicle – Michael Dakota Russell, 18, of Morganton, Georgia –  was arrested without incident, and charged with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Possession of Marijuana.

On Saturday, Nov. 2  a Towns County Sheriff’s deputy issued a traffic stop in Young Harris on a Ford Mustang on State Highway 76. Upon further investigation, the deputy arrested the driver identified as Robert Lyn Byrd, 39, of Blairsville, Georgia without incident. Byrd was arrested and charged with the following: 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Possession of Methamphetamine, 1 Count Possession of Drug Related Objects, 1 Count Vehicle Window Tint Violation, 1 Count Vehicle Tag Obstruction.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, a Towns County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on State Highway 76 in Hiawassee, on a black BMW vehicle. The deputy upon further investigation into the traffic stop arrested the driver identified as Benjamin Jason Rayburn, 44, of Murphy, North Carolina. He was arrested without incident and charged with: 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Possession of Heroin, 1 Count Possession of Drug Related Objects, 1 Count Driving on Suspended License, 1 Count Failure to Maintain Lane. 1 Count Impeding the Flow of Traffic.

On Thursday, Nov. 7,  Towns County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant at a residence located on Ford Circle in Young Harris. Upon completion of the search warrant, deputies arrested Chelsey Joy Brock, 25 of Hayesville, North Carolina without incident. Brook was arrested and charged with the following offenses: 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act – Possession of Methamphetamine,  1 Count Possession of Drug Related Objects.

“The Towns County Sheriff’s Office will continue their strong pursuit of drug suspects in the Towns County community and additional arrests will be forthcoming,” Towns County’s Chief Deputy Terry Conner said.  “All the cases are still active and ongoing.”

The cases will be forwarded to the Enotah Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

See additional Towns County news