Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins released new information following a search warrant for a drug trafficking organization in Columbus, Ohio, on July 9.
According to Watkins, on Wednesday afternoon, the Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department SWAT Team executed a search warrant on the 400 block of West 18th Street.
The investigation led to the discovery and arrest of eight individuals inside the home, according to Watkins.
He also mentioned the arrest of a ninth individual at a nearby parking lot.
According to Watkins, investigators seized a considerable amount of crack cocaine, fentanyl, US money, two weapons, and items used in the manufacture and trafficking of illegal narcotics.
Watkins said the search warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into a Columbus, Ohio-based drug trafficking ring that distributed narcotics in the Huntington region.
The Huntington Police Department handled all the arrests, and they are currently holding the nine individuals at the Western Regional Jail, he stated.
Watkins announced the arrests of the following individuals and detailed their charges:
- Terry Sky Hansard, 25, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged with two felony counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver/Delivery of a Controlled Substance and one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Lamaurice Cox, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged with two felony counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver/Delivery of a Controlled Substance and one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Dajaun Deion Reid, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged with two felony counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver/Delivery of a Controlled Substance and one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Justin Dan Wiley, 34, of Huntington, was charged with one felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver/Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
- Matthew Chadd Searls, 33, of Huntington, was charged with one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Priscilla Lula Merritt, 39, of Huntington, was charged with one felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver/Delivery of a Controlled Substance and one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Austin John Weekley, 21, of Huntington, was charged with one felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver/Delivery of a Controlled Substance and one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Jamie Kay Parsons, 44, of Huntington, was charged with one felony count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and was also arrested on outstanding warrants.
