Almost 200 arrested in weeklong Richmond County crime sweep

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Deputies have arrested 196 people over the last week as they’ve conducted street-level drug raids across Richmond County.

Beginning last Tuesday, Richmond County Sheriff’s Lt. Robert Partain said police began making low-level arrests in “hotspot” drug areas such as Harrisburg, Turpin Hill, Bethlehem, Sand Hills, Washington Road and Meadowbrook Drive.

“We made 148 drug cases that we consider either users or street level distributors,” Lt. Partain said. “We also are able to use information we obtained from a lot of these arrests to find out, OK, where are they getting drugs in these communities so that we can start targeting those particular locations?”

Almost 50 others were arrested on outstanding warrants and other crimes, he said.

Deputies seized about one pound of marijuana, an ounce of cocaine, $3,000 in cash and 10 handguns.

Lt. Partain said they were attempting to gauge where drug action and distribution were happening in the community, as well as to address some of the complaints by residents of drug use in their areas.

“A lot of the street level drug activity people that see in their community, we were targeting to try to deter some of it,” he said. “We aren’t necessarily going to stop it but were just trying to deter for a period of time then we can try to address the issues.”

Comments

lifelongresidient

no bail, just build bigger prisons

kizp

196 arrested and only $3,000 in cash...? Yeah right! Sounds like someone took their Christmas bonus a few months early.

lowellbrown

Sic 'em.

noils

What's wrong with these idiots buying drugs from street dealers? Don't they know doctors have better quality stuff that takes you where you want to go? Bring cash and ask the doc for some of his "special" samples.

HHSgrad

196 Arrested - ONLY one pound of marijuana - ONLY an ounce of cocaine - ONLY $3000 in cash and ONLY 10 handguns??? Something doesn't add up - seems to me with 196 arrested, there should have been a lot more seized.

FallingLeaves

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I don't live in any of those areas, but I think this explains something that happened about 11:05 pm Saturday night 07/18/09 when I was driving home from the grocery store after visiting my parents' home. A hot spot for suspicious activity was getting some "special" attention by law enforcement and I heard what i thought were gunshots close enough I ducked at about 11:11pm. I guess it was wishful thinking that it was just some left over firecrackers.

hands grimey

Something sounds very wrong. So you arrested 196 people for cocaine and marijuana possession, and how long have you been wasting time and resources on investigating these people? Why not spend your time on real crimes(murder, robbery, grand theft) and drugs that are actually harmful like meth and heroine. Not saying it wasn't good they arrested some people with cocaine, but marijuana, come on. Do you still think this is a problem (Mary Jane)? The 3000 dollars probably did not even pay for the gas it took to make these arrests. What did you bust each person with one joint?

Crazy Irish

Wish one of those [filtered word] had my pistol that was stolen. Sure do miss it.

patriciathomas

Street level drug dealing isn't for profit. It's for covering the product the dealer consumed before his supplier discovers it's missing. A lot of nickle bags and $10 bills with these nuisance busts. It's more for irritation control than drug control. The numbers look good for the sheriff's department. Good work guys!

diverkd

Hello?? Is there anyone reading the article... "These either users or street level distributors." That means low cash, and some information... “We also are able to use information we obtained from a lot of these arrests to find out, OK, where are they getting drugs in these communities so that we can start targeting those particular locations?”

This is just part of the effort.

diverkd

Hello?? Is there anyone reading the article... "These are either users or street level distributors." That means low cash, and some information... “We also are able to use information we obtained from a lot of these arrests to find out, OK, where are they getting drugs in these communities so that we can start targeting those particular locations?”
This is just part of the effort.

GACopperhead

I agree with hands, the amount consfiscated shows the effort to be no more than penny ante. Catch the CRACK dealers and manufacturers, put them in jail for LIFE! Catch the meth dealers....nobody gets robbed so that someone can go buy some smoke. California, for once, is on the right track, considering legalizing and taxing pot. There is so much more damage done to society by alcohol, crack and meth. The worst thing a pothead will steal is your muchies out of the fridge.......

hands grimey

What I was trying to say earlier is leave the potheads alone and focus on the real criminals.

xpresso1

could this have something to do with the people in Harrisburg speaking out and saying they are finally done with all this in their neighborhood? I mean come on you could probably arrest that many on any given day in certain areas of Augusta.So now you know that it works, quit bragging about it and get to work and get the rest of them. Send a message from the Sheriffs Office for once.

missaugusta07

Put them in the old mall ,with no cool air,just let them sleep like animals that they are,and the animals that they create to make they're pockets fat,everybody around them too that go along with it too.Treat them like that warden does in Nevada put them in pink jumpsuits,and make them sleep on the ground well if they're gonna be in the mall let them sleep on the damn floor,Forget they rights!They don't care about yours selling in front of children.keep it nailed up too so they won't see daylight!BUMS all of them,put the stealers,and the killers,drug sellers together maybe they will destroy one another!

Happy Camper 455

hands, coming from a true pothead.

Tots

I also think they should make weed legal.Tax it like tobacco.

Taylor B

This is silly. How much money did the taxpayers waste on this? Legalize pot, and let's focus on the real victim crimes. End the war on drugs, and let's move forward. This isn't going to stop anything, and will only cost this county more money that we don't have. One pound? How much did you have to pay these snitches to get that? How many deals were cut? No mention of that, but I bet the snitches did worse things that the people that got picked up!

whyaskwhy

OMG, please help the decent people understand this report !
". . . try to deter some of it" ? ? ?
". . . not going to stop it" ? ? ? Well I guess some effort is better than none. The street walking the dress and the other behaviors that goes with this trade is enough to make you yell for HELP. Yeah, legalizse it and see how many of these fools will stay on task.

kiseta50

All you potheads, will buy you a one way ticket on the Grayhound bus to California, so we can keep our neighborhood clean. Good job RCPD, glad to see some action.

bumblebeerose

Thank you very much RCPD. Stay safe and keep up the good work. I just wish they could do more about gangs and such. God Bless all who put their lives on the line for the citizens of Augusta.

jakethompson

Bet the street corners are empty tonight!

jakethompson

This kind of crap is the neighborhood owners responsibility---if you don't want it in your hood--you can get it out. Again, personal responsibility! HANG UM HIGH!

Asitisinaug

This is street level drug dealing so of course the dollars and drugs will be very low but it helps greatly to put a dent in the street selling to kids. Hopefully, some of these kids will use this as a learning tool or turn around point in their life - even if we only reach a few, it is positive. The Sheriff's Office is to be commended for their continued support of keeping drugs out of the hands of our students.

jakethompson

Sure like to know how many of these punks were of the "black" pursuasion!

NotyourDadsBuick

%^&*(# idiots!

Harrisburg Homeowner

I am glad to see some action (finally). I've heard through the grapevine that Narcotics only cares about the big dealers, not pennyante dealers. This action gives me hope that the rumor is not true. And Jake, just for your information, it is a long process to obtain enough data for drug arrests, then they move to another block and start over again. It can be very frustrating but us homeowners are not backing down. Slum lords and unwelcome tenants beware... WE ARE WATCHING YOU!

Scottskart

Amazing how some people can actually "dis" this story? What were these your relatives or something? I cannot believe some of you complained about this. Crazy... People like you are what is wrong with our society. Thanks!

jakethompson

harris, you ever hear of "beat the shiet" out of them?

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