By Staff
From Staff Reports
An ongoing investigation for the past year led to the arrest of two individuals this week in which agents recovered approximately $75,000 worth of drugs, including 770 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine.
According to a press release sent out Wednesday, on Tuesday, Nov. 29, agents with the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force along with officers from the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Brewton Police Department, East Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Atmore Police Department and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries executed a search warrant on Cunningham Road in the Pea Ridge Community.
At that residence, agents recovered more than 700 grams of powder cocaine, more than 70 grams of crack cocaine and approximately two ounces of marijuana with a "conservative" street value in excess of $75,000.
Agents also recovered two firearms, one automobile, along with drug paraphernalia consistent with cocaine distribution.
Rickel "Ricky" Dewayne Samuel, 30, of 2730 Old Castleberry Rd. in Brewton, was charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking crack cocaine and unlawful possession of marijuana, first degree.
Also arrested was Clauzell Reed, 42, of 105 Gowan St. in Brewton was also charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking crack cocaine and unlawful possession of marijuana, first degree.
Bond was set at $1 million for Samuel and $500,000 for Reed.
"This is still under investigation and more arrests are expected," said Keith Hutchins, commander of the Drug Task Force.
This is the second significant drug bust to occur in Brewton within the last month.
Late-October, the Brewton Police Department and the Drug Task Force made a big drug bust when 306 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $489,000 was recovered from a vehicle on Belleville Avenue.
Patrick Eugene Bruce, 27, was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, which are felony charges. Two other individuals were arrested in connection with the drug bust at a later date. Phillip Powell, 31, and Gregory Thomas, 29, were arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana.
That same week in a separate arrest, the Brewton Police Department arrested Andre Campbell for possession of a n illegal substance that appeared to be cocaine. Campbell was also later charged with criminal mischief after he kicked out a window of a patrol car.
The 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's office and the Escambia County Commission.
The Task Force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the United States Department of Justice, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
The remainder of the funding is provided by the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, Brewton Police Department and the Escambia County District Attorney's office.