August 11, 2009 - Dwight Hayes
Arab Police have a message for local drug dealers, "If you're going to sell dope in Arab, get ready to go to jail."   That was the message from Arab ANVIL officer Sgt. Scotty Watson during an early morning press conference called to discuss the arrest of eight alleged drug dealers during an early morning round-up.  A total of eight people are in custody with more arrests expected as the suspects are located.

Chief Mike Blackwood said that officers from the Arab Police Department and Marshall County District Attorney's Office began the operation around 5 a.m.  The officers fanned out across the area to serve the arrest warrants based on 13 Grand Jury indictments.  By 7 a.m. eight were in custody and were being processed at the APD.  Six of those arrested were transferred to the Marshall County Jail and two were transferred to Cullman County.

Watson said a total of 20 arrest warrants were issued and that 90% involved the sale of Crystal Meth to undercover agents in the local area.  All but one of the warrants involved sales made in Arab.  One involved a buy in Cullman County. 

Watson said that two of those being sought but not yet in custody had called the department to say that they would turn themselves in.  He said that officers are continuing to actively search for the other suspects.

The Tuesday morning drug round-up is part of investigations that began in January when the ANVIL program was begun.  Blackwood said that the ANVIL program is is intended to target local drug dealers.  "Arab is a member of the Marshall County Drug Task Force but we are unique in that our jurisdiction extends into four counties and the ANVIL program allows us to work with those counties and to target dealers on the edge of those counties." 

Blackwood credited Sgt. Watson for his work in heading the drug investigation and the oversight of the drug buys made during the operation, "His work is having an immediate impact on local and small time drug dealers".  Blackwood said Arab is doing it's job to try to keep drug dealers off the streets.  He said the help of the courts is needed to assure that they remain off the streets.

Blackwood also extended his thanks for the help and cooperation of the Marshall County District Attorney's Office and Marshall County Sheriff Scott Walls.

ANVIL is an acronym for Alcohol, Narcotics, Vice, Intelligence, and Laundering.  The ANVIL program has resulted in 104 felony warrants since January according to Sgt. Watson.

Arrested in the drug round-up were:

• Joseph Baker, Joppa - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Kenneth Blocker,  Arab - Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Robert Drinkard, Arab - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Suzy Graves, Arab - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

• Tolbert Rutledge, Arab - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Rodney Terrell, Arab - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Timothy Wade, Sr., Arab - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Blake Weaver, Arab - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Edward James Davis - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

• Richard Dean Sloan - Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Blake Weaver

Robert Drinkard

Tolbert Rutledge

Rodney Terrell

Timothy Wade, Sr.

Suzy Graves

Kenneth Vann Blocker

Joseph Baker

Edward James Davis

Richard Dean Sloan