Sunday, May 12, 2002
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Sunday, May 12, 2002 |
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Drugs 'ready to sell' found with guns at Wynnmeade home thanks to citizen tip By JOHN
MUNFORD
Though the situation was resolved peacefully, the bust of a major drug operation in a Wynnmeade home Monday could have easily turned deadly, according to Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray. The suspects had an assault rifle and three revolvers in the home on Beaver Dam Road, Murray noted. Four people were arrested at the scene Monday thanks to a tip from a citizen who reported two men pointing weapons at each other, police said. The tip led police to cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy inside the home that was individually wrapped and "ready for sale," Murray said. While on the scene, officers found small amounts of loose marijuana in the house enough to obtain a search warrant that turned up significant quantities of cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana, Murray said. Three suspects were arrested for possession of marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine with intent to distribute all felony charges Jermaine Scott, 21; Drayton Kleckley, 29 and Teresa Adedeji, 40, all of Peachtree City. Scott was also charged with giving a false name or date of birth to a police officer and maintaining a disorderly house. A fourth person, Andrea Potter, 25, of Peachtree City, was charged with possession of marijuana (less than one ounce). Murray said the case was an example of more dangerous crime infiltrating Peachtree City. Police were aware of illegal drug activity at this particular residence but until Monday they were unable to have enough probable cause to investigate further, the chief noted. And that's where the help from the tipster came in, Murray added. "Some of our best information comes from citizens and neighbors who see things," Murray said. "Our citizens are really involved." Local residents often spot changes that can't be seen by police officers patrolling neighborhoods, Murray said, noting "we can't be there 24 hours a day." "We check out every piece of information we get," Murray said. The city can offer rewards for persons who pass along information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals for certain crimes, the chief said. The reward program harkens back to the days of yesteryear when citizens would receive a bounty for turning in criminals, he said. Police will continue to aggressively fight crime in Wynnmeade and other areas of town, Murray said. "People come here for a quality of life and we're not going to let them run and sell drugs here," Murray said.
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