An eleven month long Arkansas State Police undercover narcotics investigation in St. Francis County culminated with the arrest of 22 alleged drug dealers today. State troopers are continuing to search for 8 individuals who have evaded apprehension during the arrest operation that has been centered in Forrest City.
All of the arrests were based on felony warrants charging each of the accused with delivery of a controlled substance. The investigation, which began in August 2021, specifically pursued suspected drug dealers selling heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy.
During the investigation, special agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division, assisted by Forrest City police detectives, coordinated drug transactions with each of the suspects. More than 5 pounds of the various narcotics were purchased cumulatively among the 30 suspects.
The execution of the arrest warrants and arrests involved approximately 60 Arkansas State Troopers, assisted by other law enforcement officers from the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force, Forrest City Police Department, St. Francis and Cross County sheriffs deputies and officers of the Palestine Police Department.
“This investigation and subsequent arrests demonstrate the commitment of the Arkansas State Police to remove drug dealers from our communities and cut-off the supply of the worst and most dangerous narcotics being funneled into Arkansas,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police. “On behalf of Arkansans in communities, large and small, I commend the special agents who tirelessly led the investigation and the united spirit of the troopers and other law enforcement officers who banned together today to make the arrests.”
As of 11:30 AM Thursday, the following individuals are among the 30 charged with the delivery of a controlled substance and currently incarcerated at the Cross County Detention Center in Wynne:
Lonzo Shealy, 44, of Forrest City
Kirk Mosby, 26, of Forrest City
Roy Parker, 37, of Forrest City
Clenton Wofford, 41, of Forrest City
Theo Walker, 32, of Forrest City
Jeremy Buchanan, 31, of Forrest City
Xavier Jones, 32, of Forrest City
Danny Brimley, 33, of Forrest City
Joseph Higgins, 30, of Forrest City
Freddie Gray, Jr., 48, of Forrest City
Ray Thomas, Jr., 22, of Forrest City
Kyiler King, 28, of Forrest City
Emilio Williams, 30, of Forrest City
Toney Walker, 36, of Forrest City
Candice Bradley, 34, of Forrest City
Joey Jones, 33, of Wynne
Ladarius Hartaway, 30, of Little Rock
Tevvion Jones, 26, of Widener
Demitrius Hunter, 33, of Forrest City
Antonio Neal, 53, of Forrest City
Timothy Graham, 29, of Forrest City
Latarsha McMillian, 44, of Forrest City
Currently, not in custody, but charged and being sought by the Arkansas State Police are:
Marco Lee, 31, of Forrest City
Ronald Williams, 30, of Forrest City
Freshawn Dosty, 25, of Forrest City
Diante Russell, 31 of Forrest City
Romero Barber, 30, of Forrest City
Robert Smith, 31, of Forrest City
Tyrek Anderson, 22, of Forrest City
Ronald Scott, Jr., 31, of Colt
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the suspects still being sought should contact the Arkansas State Police in Forrest City or the Forrest City Police Department.
Additional criminal charges in the form of federal indictments are expected to be filed against several of the individuals identified in the investigation and facing state charges.
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