February 7, 2008
Attapulgus-- Investigators say the success of the largest raid they've had recently was possible thanks to anonymous tips about drug activity at this Attapulgus home. "We been receiving complaints on them for quite some time and investigating them for quite some time," says Lieutenant Chip Nix, of the Decatur County Sheriff's Office.
That investigation paid off around 5 a.m. Thursday when the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SRT), armed with a high-risk search warrant surprised the suspects at home. Inside they found at least 2 pounds of marijuana, cocaine, packaged and ready for sale, cash, a digital scale and other drug related items.
"It was a little more significant than we originally thought it'd be. We knew there was going to be a certain amount of marijuana and cocaine there and turned out to be a significant amount of marijuana, more than we've seen in a while," says Lieutenant James Spooner, SRT Commander.
The two pistols they found were a surprise too. "It goes backs to training, we're trained where there's drugs there's guns and we're trained to be on alert for it. That's why the high risk search warrants like this morning," explains Nix.
Tearance Anderson, who's street name is Gator, and Demarco Peterson were arrested during the raid. Nix says, "The third suspect pulled up and fled the scene through the woods before we were able to apprehend him so he's still at large." That's Tearance's brother, Labarette Anderson, street name Possum.
Investigators hope people will continue to help them in cases like this. "It adds to the investigation having the public out there as our eyes and ears because where a drug dealer would be on high alert when they come through, they might not pay any attention when a neighbor goes outside to observe what's going on," says Nix.
Spooner adds, "This morning as some people were driving by and asking us what was going on and we had a couple of good comments from the citizens and we're just happy to make their neighborhood a little safer, maybe a little bit better place to live."
Investigators say these arrests could take some of the area's biggest dealers off the streets of Attapulgus, possibly for 20 years for each charge of intention to sell the drugs.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Labarette Anderson, or information on any other case, contact the Decatur County Sheriff's Office at 229-248-3044.
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