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  • District Attorney District 6 Violent Crimes Task Force Supervisor Justin Scott adds the word "jail" to a printed picture during a countywide roundup of suspected drug dealers early Friday at a secured room in the Stephens County fairgrounds building. After the suspect was arrested, the picture was noted as such and then moved to another portion of the wall. Toni Hopper/The Duncan Banner

    District Attorney District 6 Violent Crimes Task Force Supervisor Justin Scott adds the word "jail" to a printed picture during a countywide roundup of suspected drug dealers early Friday at a secured room in the Stephens County fairgrounds building. After the suspect was arrested, the picture was noted as such and then moved to another portion of the wall.

  • An unidentified pregnant female was among those arrested Friday on charges of drug dealing. The affidavits provided by District Attorney Jason Hicks included mostly methamphetamine controlled transactions, along with marijuana and prescription narcotics. The suspects were brought to the fairgrounds for initial processing. Toni Hopper/The Duncan Banner

    An unidentified pregnant female was among those arrested Friday on charges of drug dealing. The affidavits provided by District Attorney Jason Hicks included mostly methamphetamine controlled transactions, along with marijuana and prescription narcotics. The suspects were brought to the fairgrounds for initial processing.

  • Among the items, right, confiscated during search warrants issued along with arrest warrants were paraphernalia like this smoking bong and marijuana. Toni Hopper/The Duncan Banner

    Among the items, right, confiscated during search warrants issued along with arrest warrants were paraphernalia like this smoking bong and marijuana.
July 22, 2012

Element of surprise aids drug arrests

Violent Crimes Task Force serves almost 26 warrants

Toni Hopper The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — In order to keep an element of surprise when targeting a large group of individuals, few people are privy to the details of the District Attorney’s District 6 Violent Crimes Task Force plans.

That was the case Friday when the Task Force unit and multiple law enforcement agencies began knocking on doors at homes in Duncan, Marlow, Comanche and throughout the county.

Felony warrants for nearly 26 suspected drug dealers were served and the individuals have spent the weekend in jail.

They will begin appearing in Stephens County District Court Monday before Special District Judge Jerry Herberger to formally face the charges already filed by District Attorney Jason Hicks.

At that time, bond will be set, along with a date and time for a preliminary hearing conference.

The roundup culminated a six-month long investigation that was first led by Task Force Supervisor Justin Scott and investigator Lawson  Guthrie.

“It was a six month investigation into the sale of methamphetamines. The majority of these individuals have been selling,” Hicks said. According to the affidavits, the sales ranged from $30 to $1,600.

Other arrests made were for distribution of marijuana, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. Some of the transactions occurred in public places, including Abe Raizen Park in Duncan, near the Bray General Store in Bray, near the Comanche Post Office and Charges filed against some of the people arrested included trafficking.

The early morning raid began around 6 a.m. and as each individual was arrested, they were brought to the Stephens County fairgrounds for initial processing.

At any time, only one to three individuals were detained at the public fairgrounds, for a short time, before being transferred to the Stephens County Jail.

They were transported to the Stephens County fairgrounds where they were processed before being taken to Stephens County Jail for booking.

“We had an enormous amount of cooperation,” Hicks said. “I am proud of the hard work and dedication of the investigators who word so hard and diligently to catch these drug dealers. Our community is better off with these people off the streets.”

The undercover work included using confidential informants to make the buys of the drugs.

Hicks said transactions were video recorded and will serve as evidence in the prosecution of the defendants.

Several search warrants of homes also were initiated, resulting in seizure of drugs, paraphernalia and even cash. One particular net was about $2,000 in paper currency and quarters.

Agencies involved were the DA’s office and Task Force, OBN, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Duncan Police Department, Marlow Police Department and Comanche Police Department.

There were also a few extra arrests  made.

“We got a bonus,” said DPD Detective Bill Fitzhugh. “We were serving warrants on one and there was another individual standing there and Officer Mike Wilson recognized him from an outstanding warrant and we arrested that person.”

One of the individuals arrested was a young pregnant woman.

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