By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing Editor
Missing some tools, jewelry or electronics?
Brewton police may have recovered it during a Thursday bust that was the culmination of a six-month investigation.
The bust uncovered drugs, firearms and more than $50,000 worth of stolen property, and led to the arrest of five individuals.
Officers on Thursday carried out a search warrant at 203 Rankin St., according to a report from the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force.
At the residence, agents recovered crack cocaine, methadone, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, multiple firearms and stolen property.
Once officers arrived on scene, Michael Demetrius Jones of 714 March St. tried to run on foot from the house away from officers. Officer Matt Jernigan chased Jones through the neighborhood and apprehended him near the residence.
McGougin said five rooms were completely full of stolen property, including generators, skill saws, unopened property, bikes, trolling motors, power tools, televisions, stereos, cameras, jewelry and much more.
Officers were busy unloading the stolen property from a truck Friday and placing them in an undisclosed warehouse. McGougin said that while the dollar value has not yet been determined, he believes the amount to be in excess of $50,000.
Arrested were McCants, 37, who was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; Jones, 20, charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; Charles Daniel Todd, 25, of 161 Still Road, charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree; Heather Marie Allen, 21, of 603 Alco Drive, charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; Leah Raye Browder, 28, of 11536 Highway 29, charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
McGougin said further charges on the stolen property are pending.
During the arrest, agents with the Drug Task Force were assisted by officers from the Brewton Police Department and investigators from the Escambia County Sheriff's Department.
The Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Department, 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 United States Department of Justice, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
The remainder of the funding is provided by the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, Brewton Police Department and the Escambia County District Attorney's Office.
BPD: 867-3212
EBPD: 867-4864
Sheriff's Office: 867-0304