Dozens arrested in Towns County on drug charges

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – In the past two months, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office has continued to pursue suspects on drug-related charges in the community, with more traffic stops and search warrants producing arrests.

On Saturday, Dec. 28, a Towns County deputy made a traffic stop on a Toyota Corolla on Fodder Creek Road in Hiawassee. The driver identified as Toni Jean Perry, 42, of Hiawassee was arrested and charged with: 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act, Possession of Methamphetamine, 1 Count Driving on Suspended Registration, 1 Count Failure to Maintain Lane.

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies searched a residence located on Bald Mountain Cove in Hiawassee. Investigators and deputies arrested Jeremy Jemlish, 33, of Hiawassee charging him with 1 Count of Drug-Related Objects, 1 Count Giving a False Name to a Law Enforcement Officer, and
additionally arrested on an active parole warrant.

On Saturday, Jan. 11, A Towns County deputy made a traffic stop on a Dodge Ram Pickup on State Highway 75 North in Hiawassee. Upon further investigation, Harvey Ellis May, 36, of Hayesville, North Carolina was arrested and charged with 1 Count of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine.

On Monday, Jan. 13, Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies executed a search warrant at a residence located on Campbell Terrace in Young Harris. Upon the completion of the search and further investigation, the following suspects were arrested; Joshua Leon Brinson, 40, of Young Harris. He was charged with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Trafficking in Methamphetamine, 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and 1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Elizabeth Ann Brinson, 62, of Young Harris. She was arrested and charged with 1
Count Possession of Methamphetamine, 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana, and 1 Count Drug Related Objects Autumn Dawn Martin, 24, of Hayesville, North Carolina. She was arrested and charged with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine, and 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of a Schedule I Drug (Xanax).

On Wednesday, Jan. 15,  a Towns County deputy made a traffic stop on State Highway 66 in Young Harris on a Ford Explorer. Upon further investigation, the driver Jack Hadley, 47, of Warne, North Carolina was arrested and charged with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana, 1 Count Drug Related Objects, 1 Count Driving without License, and 1 Count Violation of Brake Light Requirement.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Towns County deputies assisted a Georgia State Patrol trooper with a traffic stop on State Highway 76 in Young Harris involving a Dodge Caravan. Upon further investigation, deputies arrested Tiffany Snow, 27, of Pendergrass, Georgia and charged her with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana. Nina Shelton, 27, of Braselton, Georgia was also arrested and charged with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana, and 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of THC Oil.

On Thursday, Jan. 23, a Towns County deputy made a traffic stop on State Highway 76 in Young Harris on a Nissan Altima. Upon further investigation Jack Hadley, 47, of Warne, North Carolina was arrested and charged with 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana, and 1 Count Possession of Drug Related Objects.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, a Towns County deputy made a traffic stop on State Highway 288 in Hiawassee on a Ford F-150 pickup. A Georgia State Patrol Trooper assisted with the traffic stop. Upon further investigation Chad Patterson, 42, of Hayesville, North Carolina was arrested on 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act, Possession of Methamphetamine, 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act, Possession of Marijuana, and 1 Count Possession of Drug Related Objects.

On Monday, Jan. 27,  Towns County investigators and deputies executed a search warrant at a residence located on Martin Circle in Young Harris. Upon the completion of the search warrant Donald Richard Martin, 45, of Young Harris was arrested on 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine.
He was also arrested on 2 warrants for Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Sell of Methamphetamine, and 1 warrant for Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Sell of a Schedule I Drug (Ecstasy) These warrants were in reference to a recent undercover investigation.

On Tuesday, Feb. 4,  Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies searched a residence located in Ashland Cove, and upon the completion of the search arrested James Bailey, 37, of Young Harris on the following charges: 1 Count of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine and 1 Count of Drug Related Objects. Bailey was also arrested on a warrant out of Florida for the sale and delivery of methamphetamine.

On Sunday, Feb. 9,  a Towns County deputy made a traffic stop on State Highway 76 in Young Harris on a Buick Verano. Upon further investigation the following suspects were arrested:
Jordan Shane Bragg. 19. of Douglasville, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana
1 Count Speeding
Zion Jesse Moore, 19, of Dunwoody, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana
Joshua Amir Lalik Smith, 19, of Lawrenceville, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana
Harold Jordan Mac Blue, 19, of Duluth, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana

On Frida,y Feb. 14, a Towns County deputy conducted a traffic stop on State Highway 76 in Young Harris on a Honda Civic. Upon further investigation, the driver identified as Meredith Jane Reynolds, 19, of Hayesville, North Carolina was arrested on the following charges: 1 Count Drug Related Objects, and 1 Count Violation of Window Tint
Regulation. A Hiawassee Police Department officer assisted with the traffic stop.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies conducted a search of a residence located on Deer Run in Hiawassee. Upon the completion of the search and further investigation, the following suspects were arrested:

Jack Douglas Cothren, 49, of Hiawassee, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine
1 Count Drug Related Objects
Dena Robin Beasley, 49, of Hiawassee, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine
1 Count Drug Related Objects
Clifton Cothren, 67, of Hiawassee, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine
1 Count Drug Related Objects

On Friday, Feb. 21,  a Towns County investigator and deputy made a traffic stop on State Highway 66 in Young Harris on a Dodge Durango. Upon further investigation, officers arrested the driver, Donald Beck, 39, of Young Harris on the following charges: 1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine, 1 Count Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and 1 Count of Drug
Related Objects/

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, a Towns County deputy on patrol in the area of King Cove Road in Young Harris made contact with a subject walking. Upon further investigation, the subject, Johnathan Dills, 38, of Young Harris was arrested for 2 Counts of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Schedule II Drugs and 1
Count of Drug Related Objects.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26,  Towns County investigators and deputies searched a residence located off Mill Creek Road in Hiawassee. Upon the completion of the search the following suspects were arrested:
Corey Hensley, 42, of Murphy, North Carolina
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine
1 Count Drug Related Objects
1 Count Giving False Name to Law Enforcement
1 Probation Warrant
Sonia Taylor, 43, of Hiawassee, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Methamphetamine
1 Count Drug Related Objects

On Thursday, Feb. 27,  Towns County investigators and deputies, acting on information received from the Blairsville Police Department, searched a residence located off Lakeview Drive in Young Harris. Investigators located an indoor marijuana grow. Upon further investigation, law enforcement officers arrested the following suspects:
Katherine Bowman, 38, of Young Harris, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Manufacturing Marijuana
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana
1 Count of Drug Related Objects
Edward Carroll, 40, of Young Harris, Georgia
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Manufacturing Marijuana
1 Count Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act Possession of Marijuana
1 Count Drug Related Objects

On Friday, Feb. 28,  Towns County investigators and deputies after receiving information from Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Zachary Hart, 22, of Warne, North Carolina at a residence located off Tay Walk Way in Hiawassee. Clay County deputies, along with Sheriff Deese, assisted with the arrest. Hart was wanted on warrants
out of Clay County North Carolina for Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession/Manufacturing/Sell/Distributing Methamphetamine, and Fleeing/Eluding Arrest. Hart was also wanted on an active probation out of Towns County.

The Towns County Sheriff’s Office extended appreciation toward the following departments for their help and assistance with the arrests of the suspects: Georgia State Patrol, Georgia State Probation, Hiawassee Police Department, Blairsville Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Clay County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office.

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