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KOKOMO, Ind. — Kokomo police go undercover to crack down on drug activity in Howard county.
The Kokomo Police Department Drug Task Force (DTF) initiated “Operation Fastlane” in May 2019. The investigation resulted in 77 felony charges filed with the Howard County Prosecutor’s office.
On Tuesday Kokomo police announced the results of the investigation. The series of arrests landed 24 people behind bars.
At a gas station, which last year went by the name Fast Lane Foods, Kokomo police claim an informant met with Andrew Moore and bought 150 dollars in meth.
Inside a nearby apartment, prosecutors say an informant bought cocaine from Robert Blackburn.
At a CVS and a couple of blocks away at a home on south Leeds, James Jackson also allegedly sold drugs to an informant.
Those are 3 of the 24 people accused of selling meth, cocaine and heroin to police. Five other suspects have active warrants for their arrest.
“They just made it too obvious with cars coming and going all hours, all the time,” said Kim Brandon.
Kim suspected her neighbor had been dealing drugs out of his home and is glad he was one of the two dozen people arrested.
“I think it’s a good deal. It’s about time they crack down on things like that, because it’s a nuisance,” said Brandon.
Court records show starting in May 2019, Kokomo police conducted nearly 70 undercover drug purchases.
Exactly one year earlier in May 2018, federal prosecutors teamed up with Kokomo police to dismantle a drug trafficking ring dubbed Operation Law and Order.
Following those raids, the police chief at the time offered a warning that proved to be true.
“For the people who think just because we didn’t knock on your door yet, we’re coming to get you,” said then Kokomo police chief Robert Baker in May 2018.
“Drugs are just bad all the way around. If you can stop it, go for it,” said Brandon.
Investigators seized the following narcotics: 349.42 grams of methamphetamine, 13.23 grams of heroin, 2 grams of cocaine, and 25.5 grams of controlled substances.
The following people, all Kokomo residents unless otherwise noted, were arrested:
James Terrell Perry, 32
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (5 Counts)
Hayleigh Ranee Johnston-Chadwick, 27
- Dealing in Methamphetamine
Chad Ryan Cox, 37
- Dealing in a Look-A-Like Substance
- Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug
Ryan Daniel Davis, 34
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (2 Counts)
Michael Anthony Richeson, 58
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Brandi Noelle Barnes, 38
- Dealing in Methamphetamine
James Edward Jackson, 49
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (3 Counts)
- Aiding, Inducing, or Causing Dealing in Methamphetamine
Nichole Danielle Kamal, 35
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (3 Counts)
Darrell Dewayne Johns, 43
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Controlled Substances
Antonio Lavar Smith, 42
- Dealing in Methamphetamine
Tabatha Jean Harrington, 29
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (4 Counts)
Kevin Neil Walker, 38
- Dealing a Narcotic Drug
Robert Leroy Heath, Jr., 45
- Dealing in Methamphetamine
Lyndsey Kay Renae Glassburn, 35
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (2 Counts)
Joseph Andrew Geary, 34
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (3 Counts)
Joseph Andrew Perry, 35
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (2 Counts)
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (2 Counts)
Andrew Dusean Moore, ae 26
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (5 Counts)
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug
Robert Allen Blackburn, ag 59, of Sharpsville
- Dealing in Cocaine
- Dealing in a Schedule III Controlled Substance
Misty Reshea Rose, 37, of Galveston
- Aiding, Inducing, or Causing Dealing in Methamphetamine (2 Counts)
Anthony Curtis Reeves, 32
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (4 Counts)
- Dealing in a Narcotic Drug
Carli Sue Reeves, 28
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (3 Counts)
Amanda Gail Shelby, 32
- Dealing in Schedule III Controlled Substance (3 Counts)
Tate Wayne Schroeder, 27
- Dealing Methamphetamine
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Possession of Marijuana
- Dealing Controlled Substances
- Possession of Controlled Substances
Billie Joe Noland, age 38
- Possession of Syringe
- Petition to Revoke Suspended Sentence
The following people have warrants as a result of this investigation, but have not been arrested at this time. Investigators are attempting to find them.
Ronald Dean Shue, 35
- Dealing a Narcotic Drug
Paul Patrick Clark, 42
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (2 Counts)
Sean Patrick Rogers, 30
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (2 Counts)
Brittany Jean Haney, 30
- Dealing in Methamphetamine (3 Counts)
Steven Douglas Hilligoss, 38, of Greentown
- Dealing in a Schedule III Controlled Substance
These cases remain active for investigation. Anyone with additional information on the location of the remaining five individuals is asked to contact Detective Aaron Tarrh at (765) 456-7204 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at (765) 456-7017. You may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-262-TIPS with your anonymous tip.
