Staff
According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, four men are in federal custody after being indicted and arrested on charges related to trafficking narcotics.
The department reported that the DeKalb County Narcotics Unit and the FBI’s Northeast Alabama Criminal Enterprise Task Force worked a long narcotics investigation into illicit drug trafficking in our area that concluded this month after all the subjects were indicted in federal court and arrested.
The four were indicted on February 28, 2022, and all have been arrested and turned in to the U.S. Marshalls Service. The indictments were obtained by an FBI Task Force officer assigned locally to the DeKalb County Narcotics Unit.
David Ray Cisco (49 of Dutton), Charles Edward Matchen Jr. (49 of Pisgah), Randy Tidwell (60 of Bridgeport), and Gary Chambless (38 of Scottsboro) were all indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute/Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and multiple counts of Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
All currently remain in federal custody pending trial.
Sheriff Welden also reported on drug arrests made during the last two weeks in March. Several suspects were apprehended.
On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, a DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop on County Road 197 and Lacy Road in Henagar. Initially, the driver pulled to the side of the road, but as the agent approached the vehicle, the driver sped away. The driver led the agent on a high-speed chase that lasted approximately 20 minutes, nearly hitting several vehicles and wrecking on County Road 183 in Jackson County.
Zackery Blake Laney (34 of Sylvania) was charged with Attempt to Elude, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Promote Prison Contraband 3rd.
Laney also received charges related to violating his federal probation.
On Friday, March 18, 2022, at approximately 2 pm, a DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent was conducting a routine patrol on County Road 134 near Henagar when he stopped a suspicious vehicle.
Both the driver and passenger were found to have active warrants with other agencies. Officers with the Henagar Police Department and the DCSO Narcotics Unit arrived to assist. After the warrants were confirmed and the subjects were placed under arrest, Officers and Agents located drug paraphernalia, over 6 grams of Methamphetamine, two grams of marijuana, and a sawed-off rifle with the serial number removed.
Samuel McMullins (21 of Dutton, Ala.) and Ashley Rogers (29 of Fort Payne) were arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Sawed-off Rifle/Shotgun.
On Monday, March 21, 2022, DeKalb County Narcotics Agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on County Road 411 near Grove Oak. The vehicle failed to follow the agent’s commands, leading to a brief pursuit at low speed. The vehicle eventually stopped at the intersection of County Roads 411 and 356. While searching the vehicle, Agents located Methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm.
The driver, Eric Gant (36 of Fort Payne), was arrested and charged with Attempting to Elude, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Investigators were also called to the scene to check for stolen property. More charges may be pending upon further investigation.
Later that night, DeKalb County Narcotics Agents conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle on Highway 75 in Rainsville. While searching, Agents located brass knuckles on the subject. A further search revealed Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia.
The suspect, Joshua Anderson (45 of Fyffe), was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Carrying Brass Knuckles.
On Saturday, March 26, 2022, a DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent received information regarding a burglary that had occurred the previous day in Leesburg, Alabama. That afternoon, the agent located one of the suspects on County Road 958 in Deer Head Cove, near the Georgia line.
The suspect, Ronald Character (35 of Flat Rock), was arrested and charged the following week in Cherokee County with Receiving Stolen Property 2nd Degree (x2), Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, Theft of Property 1st Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft of Property – Firearm.
Another subject on the scene, Scotty Cuzzort (41 of Cloudland, Georgia), was found to have an outstanding warrant with the Ider Police Department and was also arrested.
The following night (Sunday, March 27, 2022), a DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agent conducted a traffic stop on Highway 68 near Kilpatrick and the Marshall County line. During a search, the suspect was found to have marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 25 grams of Methamphetamine.
The driver, Daniel Scott Bearden (38 of Albertville), was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute – Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Monday, March 28, 2022, a DeKalb County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on County Road 479 near Kilpatrick. During the stop, the vehicle occupants were found to have marijuana, marijuana edibles, drug paraphernalia, an undisclosed amount of currency, and a handgun.
Patrick Hendrickson (30 of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota) and Nicholas Roberts (29 of Saint Cloud, Minnesota) were arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 1st Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Thursday, May 31, 2022, at approximately 5 pm, DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Agents conducted a traffic stop near Fruit Farm and Adamsburg Roads in Fort Payne. Upon a search of the vehicle, agents located drug paraphernalia and Methamphetamine.
The driver, Gerald Collins (61 of Fort Payne), was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the arrest: “This is a great job by our deputies, interdiction agents, and narcotics agents! The first place to start in keeping our county safe is our roadways. Almost all parts of the criminal element must travel on the roadways, taking with them evidence of crimes and dangerous narcotics that fuel these crimes.”
“Every day, the criminal element travels through our communities on our roadways, driving right by children playing and our homes. I’m very thankful for those that put in the extra effort to patrol our roads and let these criminals know that it will not be tolerated in this county. Our citizens shouldn’t have to worry about impaired drivers while running errands, going to work, or taking the kids to school,” said Sheriff Welden.
