By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP – Managing Editor
A three-month investigation conducted by the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force came to an end Wednesday night with the arrest of a man allegedly in possession of marijuana and cocaine.
Tommy Lee "Dawg" Thomas, 48, of Kerlin Avenue in Brewton, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Task Force Commander Keith Hutchins said more charges against Thomas are pending. There is also a possibility of a federal indictment against the suspect on firearm charges.
Along with an undisclosed amount of marijuana and cocaine, agents with the task force seized a rifle, shotgun and other weapons.
Thomas was the subject of a search warrant in 1999 when he was arrested and charged on similar drug charges, according to Hutchins.
This search warrant was obtained after an investigation of Thomas that Hutchins said has lasted several months.
Thomas was taken to the Escambia County Detention Center. Bond was set at $17,000. As of Friday, Thomas had not made bail.
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Atmore Police Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's Office and the Escambia County Commission.
The task force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The remainder of the funding is provided by the ECSO, BPD, APD and the district attorney's office.