Bartholomew County’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team has arrested eight people for dealing heroin or methamphetamine, accused of selling the narcotics to undercover detectives.
The individuals were arrested over the past two weeks, with many of them being picked up within the past 24 hours, Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said. The enforcement team was assisted by county sheriff’s department, Columbus Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Arrested were:
Cameron C. Agnew, 22, of 3449 Blackstone Square, Columbus, on a preliminary charge of dealing in heroin, held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $140,000 bond.
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Rachel E. Allen, 30, of 5875 E. County Road 50N, Columbus, on a preliminary charge of dealing in heroin, released on bond from jail.
Shawn M. Asher, 37, no address provided, on preliminary charges of two counts of dealing methamphetamine, held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $315,500 bond.
Jeffery Melvin II, age unavailable, currently an inmate in the Indiana prison system, on a preliminary charge of dealing in methamphetamine.
Kristen E. Parris, 25, of 2914 N. Peach St., Columbus, on preliminary charges of two counts of dealing heroin, being held in jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Chad E. Phillips, 37, of 2893 N. Talley Road, Columbus, on preliminary charges of two counts of dealing methamphetamine, held in the jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
Connie D. Richey, 52, of 2401 Fairington Court, Columbus, on preliminary charges of two counts of dealing heroin, being held in jail in lieu of $100,255 bond.
Jonathon K. Villegas, 23, of 1691 Wrenwood Drive, Columbus, on preliminary charges of two counts of dealing heroin, held in the jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
The arrests were made over a number of days to avoid tipping off other individuals about what was happening, Myers said. Other investigations stemming from these arrests are continuing, he said.
The office of Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash will determine what criminal charges, if any, to file.
“This is good work,” Myers said of undercover officers’ efforts to identify the dealers in the community. “We know there are more people out there that we believe are going to Indianapolis and Cincinnati to bring back drugs. Some of these people charged with dealing have been charged more than once.”
Myers attributed the success of the most recent arrest sweep to ongoing tips from the public calling in information to investigators.
“I want to encourage the community to stay involved,” he said. “We’re getting good intelligence from people — they are watching for us and calling us to tell us about drug activity.”
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the sheriff’s department, Columbus police and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office and is targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
