Back to back busts in Fayetteville March 1 and in Peachtree City March 2 netted four arrests and charges for intent to distribute marijuana, crack cocaine and Ecstasy. A third bust March 6 in Fayetteville resulted in the arrest of three men on marijuana charges.
Marcus Harp, 20, of Jonesboro, was charged in the March 1 incident with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA, or Ecstasy, with intent to distribute, improper tag and no insurance, according to Fayette Sheriff’s Drug Task Force Commander Mike Pruitt.
Also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute was 20-year-old Riverdale resident Erwin Jordan, Pruitt said.
Harp and Jordan arrived in Fayetteville at approximately 6 p.m. from a Clayton County location. Task force agents, Fayette SWAT team members and deputies arrested Harp and Jordan in the parking lot of Fun Bowl Fayetteville off Ga. Highway 85 after an undercover task force agent made a drug purchase shortly after the two men arrived at the location in a white Chevrolet Caprice. Seized in the incident was approximately five ounces of suspected marijuana and an unspecified quantity of suspected Ecstasy.
Another undercover drug purchase and bust was made the following day at approximately 4:30 p.m. in the Home Depot parking lot in Peachtree City, netting 106 bags of suspected crack cocaine and 43 bags of suspected marijuana.
Arrested in the incident were 20 year-old Newnan resident Markino Byrd and 20 year-old Brandy Caesar, also of Newnan, said Pruitt. Byrd and Caesar were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, Pruitt said.
A brief foot-chase occurred when Byrd exited the car as agents approached and fled across the parking lot, only to be quickly apprehended by officers.
Nearly all the suspected drugs had been packaged in small jewel bags for street sale, said Pruitt. He said the drug seizures March 1 and 2 were examples of the continuing and growing presence of illegal drugs in Fayette County.
Task force agents in the Peachtree City bust were assisted by SWAT members and Fayette deputies.
The third drug bust in less than a week occurred March 6 in the Home Depot parking lot in Fayetteville.
Gregory Smith, 24, of New Orleans and currently residing in Riverdale, Cornell Young, 24, also of New Orleans and currently residing in Atlanta and 18-year-old Riverdale resident Marcus Ruffell-Ford were all charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Pruitt said.
The seizure of approximately four ounces of suspected marijuana was confiscated when the men arrived at the Home Depot to complete the drug transaction with an undercover agent, said Pruitt.
The use of marijuana and cocaine, through chewing the leaves of the coca plant, has been documented through recorded human history.
Crack cocaine, a solid form of freebased powered cocaine, became popular beginning in the late 1970s. Crack is smoked, with the substance reaching the brain within 10-15 seconds of inhaling.
Adverse reactions, regardless the dosage, may include convulsions, abnormal heartbeat, extreme depression, stroke, heart attack and death, according to Narcotics Anonymous.
Though synthesized in 1912 but not widely used until the mid-1980s, Ecstasy, also known as X, XTC or Adam is the name for MDMA or 3,4, methylenedioxymethylamphetamine.
While is carries no physical dependence and a moderate psychological dependence, Ecstasy can be taken orally, snorted or smoked. Effects of the last four to six hours, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
While Ecstasy causes a heightening of the senses and a euphoric effect, effects of overdose can include increased body temperature, electrolyte imbalance and cardiac arrest.