Major Drug Sweep Conducted Early Friday In Century; ECSO Releases Names, Details

July 11, 2008

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A major drug sweep took place early Friday morning in the Century area as officers fanned out across the city conducting raids and searches.

Ten people were arrested in the sting, according to Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby, with five or six more arrests expected to result from the month long investigation. Most of the arrests involved hydrocodone, also known by the brand name Lortab.

Those arrested  and their charges were:

  • Billy G. Griffis, 51, McCall Road. Charged with selling hydrocodone, selling hydrocodone with 1,000 feet of a place of worship, possession of hydrocodone with 1,000 feet of a place of worship with an intent to distribute, trafficking in hydrocodone over four grams. His bond was set at $70,000.
  • Jeffery L. Sanders, 24, West Highway 4. He was charged with selling cocaine. His bond was set at $10,000.
  • Brain K. Sanders, 21, Highway 31, Flomaton. He was charged with selling cocaine and possession of cocaine. His bond was set at $20,000.
  • Anna M. Elliot, 26, Ramar Street. She was charged with selling cocaine, cocaine possession with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana under 20 grams. Bond was set at $26,000.
  • Willie C. Banks, 25, Old Flomaton Road. He was charged with selling cocaine, cocaine possession with the intent to sell, selling of hydrocodone, possession of hydrocodone with intent to sell. Bond was set at $35,000.
  • Terrance M Malone, 21, Jefferson Avenue. Selling of cocaine, sell of MDMA (“Ecstasy”), selling of marijuana, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, selling of MDMA. Bond was set at $45,000.
  • Dewayne Carter, 35, Lake Street. Selling of cocaine, possession of cocaine. Bond was set at $5,000.
  • Helen M. Isabel, 18, Hudson Hill Road. Selling of hydrocodone. Bond set at $5,000.
  • Gregory Williams, 32, Old Flomaton Road. Possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond set at $500.
  • Rebecca Warrick, 23 of Old Flomaton Road. Possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond set at $500.

For photographs of each suspect, click here.

The sheriff said he expects five or six more arrests as a result of the month long investigation.

Search warrants were executed at 153 East Pond Street; 120 East Pond Street; 9451 Old Flomaton Road, Lot 3; and 101 McCall Road.

NorthEscambia.com was at the raid on McCall Street. At least seven people sat outside in handcuffs as officers searched a travel trailer and mobile home during the early morning hours. Two of those being held outside during the searches, a male and a female, were taken into custody and transported to the Escambia County Jail.

“I didn’t do nothing,” the woman told deputies. “What y’all got me here for? You think I sold crack or something? Marijuana? I didn’t do no nothing.”

“You have a warrant for your arrest, ma’am,” an officer told her. “You sold drugs to an undercover officer.”

“I ain’t sold no drugs to nobody,” she replied.

The arrests and searches, which began after midnight, were mostly over by about 4:00 Friday morning.

Click here for more photos from the drug raids early this morning.

Click here for mug shots of each suspect.

Pictured above: Billy G. Griffis, 51, is taken into custody before being transported to the Escambia County Jail about 3:30 Frudat morning on McCall Road. Pictured below: One of the raids was conducted at this mobile home and travel trailer on McCall Road near the intersection of Hudson Hill Road. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

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Comments

9 Responses to “Major Drug Sweep Conducted Early Friday In Century; ECSO Releases Names, Details”

  1. L on July 16th, 2008 1:03 am

    Thank God for this step in the right direction. At the very least, the children in these neighborhoods deserve a chance to step out of this destructive way of life that has continued through generations and see that it’s NOT the way! Dealing drugs is not the way to support a family. Praise God this is being revealed!

    Law enforcement & task force officers, YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!!!

  2. j.j. on July 15th, 2008 7:18 pm

    Great job on the arrest ,but these people will be right back on the streets again. With the bonds set so low all they are doing is laughing at the system. Wake-up people .The system has got to change to make it difficult for the one’s arrested to get on of jail. Our jails has become better than some people home.

  3. Kim on July 12th, 2008 5:39 pm

    I am so glad to see something being done to get these people where they belong! Off of our streets. I hope that the good job from the police and the mayor will send a clear message to the others that deal in drugs that we are tired and fed up of it in our community!

  4. sherry on July 12th, 2008 11:38 am

    I just wanted to comment about the life & times of Century as I remember it, I grew up in downtown century, lived here all my life and the place we lived is no longer there forever changed, I remember walking to Loby’s diner and getting a coke out of the machine there for 10 cents. A lot of the kids that grew up on that street are still living here but on the outskirts as I do and I think you all have just begun to scratch the surface, But is that where it ends, well only time will tell. I have to admit its a good start but will it continue? Come on now everyone knows what goes on and the people involved but in my eyes they just turn a shoulder or shake their head and forget about it! As a life long resident I am not afraid to voice my opinion and say that I do not want my grandchildren, children who are starting there new lives as young adults to see these things but they are here, in our community and the young people, in order to have a life, make money for their families have to leave or work out of town just to make ends meet, it is not at all like it was when I grew up, goodness we do have some good memories of the town of century but because of these activities we can forever forget the town we knew as kids, this is sad but where are the people who put us in this predicament now? turning down improvement places for our young adults to work, its now time for the elders in the community,I think to say its sad we didn’t do something with the old mill, let new businesses come here for local people, not employ people from pensacola, and take care of our own , like it used to be!!!!!just look for instance at the prison???it was supposed to be for jobs in our area just take and ask how many people from century “original” are employed there I think if you take a close look you will find the results stagering and shameful, is this food for thought i wonder People OPEN your eyes!

  5. Gayle on July 12th, 2008 7:48 am

    YOU GUYS DONE A GREAT JOB… DRUGS HAS BEEN A PROMBLE IN CENTURY FOR A LONG TIME BUT IT WASNT IN THE CITY LIMT AS BAD AS IT IS NOW.. MATHIS TRAILER PARK#1 ON IVEY ST IS A REALLY BIG DRUG PROMBLE IVEY ST, OFF COTTAGE ST, AND ZION..EVERYONE KNOWS THE DRUGS ARE THERE AND THE MAYOR AGREED FOR ANOTHER MATHIS TRAILE PARK TO TIE INTO CENTURY TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE TRAILER PARK WITCH THATS A GOOD THING BUT IS IT GOING TO BRING MORE DRUGS WITH IT? IAGREE WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT MADE A COMMET CENTURY IS NOT CENTURY ANYMORE CENTURY IS SAD…….

    YOU GYS GO GET EM ALL GOOD LUCK DRUG TASK FORCE !

  6. uremum on July 11th, 2008 6:06 pm

    nice job police! you guys did it! clearing century out of 10 more drug addicts!

  7. Michelle D on July 11th, 2008 3:03 pm

    If this is who I think it is, I hate to hear about this for his mom’s sake. She has been through a lot in her life and this just adds to all of it.

    I lived in Century when I was young and then a few years back for a short period. Century has gotten pretty bad over the years. I hope it can get back on the right track before long.

  8. Sylvia Godwin on July 11th, 2008 2:36 pm

    Not that it’s bad enough that Century already looks like a slop hole, we have to deal with all this too. I just wish Century could be like it was sixty years ago, but I know that is never going to happen now. I remember being able to walk from my house over to the high school, and not being afraid, but I would never think of doing that now. Century is full of drugs, and it is a scary thing.

  9. SELENA on July 11th, 2008 11:11 am

    I think it’s great that these drug dealers are getting the attention that they deserve. “Good Job” to all the officers involved. You risk your safety to ensure ours.