During the month of April, 16 were charged with drug related offenses

From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden: 

FORT PAYNE, Ala. - We would like to thank The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Deputies, K-9 Unit and Drugs and Major Crimes Unit, Fort Payne, Henagar and Collinsville Police Departments, ALEA and Dade County Georgia Sheriff's Office Deputies in all the help they provided us during the month of April.  

On Wednesday, April 1st, DeKalb County Deputies were conducting a traffic safety checkpoint on County Road 179 and County Road 433.  While on the checkpoint Deputies observed a vehicle turn around to avoid them.  Deputies stopped the vehicle and made contact with the occupants who were identified as Frances Nicole Bass (36 of Scottsboro) and Damien Lane Walker (28 of Albertville).  While speaking with the occupants, Deputies could smell marijuana and conducted a vehicle search. Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia was recovered from the vehicle and both were charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Frances Nicole Bass (36 of Scottsboro)	Damien Lane Walker (28 of Albertville)

Also, on Wednesday, the DeKalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit observed a stranded motorist in the roadway on County Road 507.  Upon making contact with the driver, he was identified as Anthony James Masino (40 of Ider) and it was found that he had active warrants. During a search of the vehicle Agents found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  Masino was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Anthony James Masino (40 of Ider)

On Friday, April 3rd, DeKalb County Deputies and Henagar Police went to a residence on County Road 85 due to a Domestic Violence incident in progress.  Upon arrival they made contact with the victim in the front yard.  While attempting to make contact with the other subject, identified as Jacob Ryan Stewart (39 of Fort Payne), began fighting with Law Enforcement and while fighting attempted to dispose of a THC Vape.  The Drugs and Major Crimes Unit was contacted and responded and Stewart was charged with Domestic Violence 3rd, Resisting Arrest and Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.

Jacob Ryan Stewart (39 of Fort Payne)

On Tuesday, April 7th, Collinsville Police responded to the Travelers Inn due to a Domestic Violence incident in progress.  Upon arrival they made contact with Eric Crane (49 of Fort Payne).  During a search, Officers found marijuana, THC vape and drug paraphernalia.  Crane was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Eric Crane (49 of Fort Payne)

On Sunday, April 12th, a Dekalb County Deputy was patrolling on County Road 169 near the Cartersville Community when he observed a Ford Focus pass by without a license plate. The Deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver fled, eventually coming to a stop on a dead-end unpaved road near a residence. The driver, later identified as Vanessa Taylor Whitmoyer (30 of Trenton, GA), fled the vehicle on foot and was apprehended after a search involving multiple Dekalb County Sheriff's Office Deputies as well as Dade County Georgia Sheriff's Office Deputies. During a search, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit responded and Whitmoyer was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Attempt to Elude.

Vanessa Taylor Whitmoyer (30 of Trenton, GA)

On Monday, April 13th, at approx. 11:20 PM a Dekalb County Deputy observed a vehicle sitting in the parking lot of a closed business at the intersection of HWY 75 and Marshall Road in Rainsville. As the Deputy approached the vehicle, he observed the driver slumped in the seat of the vehicle. Upon making contact with the driver, identified as Timothy Jay Beavers (36 of Rainsville), it was discovered he had warrants with Rainsville Police Department. Beavers was detained on this warrant and a substantial amount of methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia was discovered on Beavers person. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit responded and Beavers was charged with Possession w/ Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Timothy Jay Beavers (36 of Rainsville)

On Tuesday, April 14th, a Dekalb County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for improper lane usage near the AL/GA state line on HWY 75. Upon making contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Melissa Marlene Cunningham (45 of Flat Rock), the deputy discovered she had multiple warrants with the Dekalb County Sheriff's Office as well as a warrant out of Hamilton County, TN. Cunningham was detained on those warrants and a vehicle search was conducted. During the vehicle search, clonazepam, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were discovered. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit responded and Cunningham was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, FTA-Marijuana 2nd, and FTA-Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Melissa Marlene Cunningham (45 of Flat Rock)

On Sunday, April 19th, a Dekalb County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for driving on the wrong side of the highway on County Road 835. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Marcos Ramirez Jimenez (21 of Fort Payne), and while speaking with Jimenez the deputy observed a firearm in the vehicle. Jimenez was asked out of the vehicle and it was discovered he had warrants with Albertville Police Department. During a search of the vehicle, psylocibin was found. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit was notified and Jimenez was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Addict in Poss. of Firearm and his outstanding warrant with Albertville Police Department. 

Marcos Ramirez Jimenez (21 of Fort Payne)

On Thursday, April 23rd, A Dekalb County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding and improper lane usage on US HWY 11 near Hammondville. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Robert Lee Crocker (36 of Fort Payne), and during the course of the traffic stop the Deputy suspected that Crocker was potentially impaired and asked him out of the vehicle to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. At the conclusion of SFST, Crocker was arrested for DUI-Any Substance. During a search of the vehicle, a Suboxone strip, Suboxone pills and firearms were found. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit was then notified and responded to the traffic stop. Crocker was charged with DUI-Any Substance and Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.

Robert Lee Crocker (36 of Fort Payne)

Also, on Thursday, a Dekalb County K-9 Deputy conducted a traffic stop on AL HWY 117 in Mentone on a vehicle for no license plate. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Roger Brian Steele (52 of Fackler), and during the course of the traffic stop the Deputy deployed his K-9. At the conclusion of the K-9 deployment, K-9 Blazer gave a positive alert and Steele was asked out of the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit was notified and Steele was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Roger Brian Steele (52 of Fackler)

Again, on Thursday, a Dekalb County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on AL HWY 117 near Mentone Market for failure to signal a turn. Upon making contact with the driver, identified as Vinson Demetrius Mckennie (28 of Huntsville), it was determined that he did not possess proof of insurance for the vehicle. During the course of the traffic stop, a Dekalb County K-9 Deputy responded. At the conclusion of the K-9 deployment, K-9 Blazer gave a positive alert. During the vehicle search, over a pound of marijuana was found concealed within the vehicle. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit responded and Mckennie was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Vinson Demetrius Mckennie (28 of Huntsville)

On Monday, April 27th, a Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by George Travis Roach (46 of Calhoun, GA) near Jordan Road SW and AL HWY 35 in Fort Payne. Roach refused to stop his vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed towards I-59. A vehicle pursuit was initiated and Dekalb County Deputies, ALEA, and Fort Payne Police Officers came to assist. The pursuit went northbound and continued several minutes, with Roach eventually leaving the interstate and traveling to Gault AVE N. Near the intersection of Gault AVE N and 55th Street, Roach left the roadway and collided with a Dekalb County DMCU Agent's vehicle. Roach then collided with a block wall and flipped his vehicle over an embankment, coming to a stop. Roach was quickly apprehended, and an inventory search of the vehicle was conducted. During the inventory search, over 3 lbs. of methamphetamine, over 40 grams of cocaine, two different types of controlled substance pills, and drug paraphernalia was found within the vehicle. Roach was transported to the Dekalb County Jail and charged with Felony Attempt to Elude, Criminal Mischief 1st x2, Reckless Endangerment, Resisting Arrest, Drug Trafficking-Meth, Drug Trafficking-Cocaine, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2), and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

George Travis Roach (46 of Calhoun, GA)

On Tuesday, April 28th, a Dekalb County Deputy responded to the 800 block of County Road 611 in Valley Head in regard to a caller stating a suspicious vehicle was parked at a residence where no-one had lived in several years. Upon arriving on scene, the Deputy made contact with Johnny Elkins (35 of Valley Head), Katelynn Scott (28 of Trenton, GA), and Breanna Collins (31 of Bridgeport).  Deputies observed Collins attempting to hide drug paraphernalia and observed Scott attempting to destroy a baggie containing methamphetamine. It was discovered that Elkins and Scott had warrants with the Dekalb County Sheriff's Office and during a search of Elkins' person, drug paraphernalia was found. During a search of the vehicle, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine were found. The Dekalb County Drugs and Major Crimes Unit was called and responded.  Elkins was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, FTA (Traffic) x3, FTA-Attempt to Elude, FTA-Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd, FTA-Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, FTA-Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st, FTA-Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (x2), FTA-Obstructing Justice Using False ID.  Scott was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Collins was charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Bondsman off Bond-Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance.

Johnny Elkins (35 of Valley Head)	Katelynn Scott (28 of Trenton, GA)	Breanna Collins (31 of Bridgeport)