Seven arrested in raid
PINE HILL — Seven persons were arrested during the course of a major drug raid at a Buffalo Road residence here Monday evening.
The raid was a collaborative effort by both the Oneida Police Department and the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, with officers from both jurisdictions descending on the residence — located at 2241 Buffalo Road near the Pine Hill Fire Hall — at around dusk Monday.
In what one of the officers participating in the raid termed “one of the biggest raids ever [in Scott County],” a large number of drugs, firearms, and items believed to be stolen were allegedly seized from the home.
“The two agencies worked together to curtail drug activity in the Pine Hill area and in Scott County,” Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Bobby Ellis said of the raid.
“Sheriff (Anthony) Lay and myself had received several complaints about drug activity at this location, and the two departments worked together to carry out the operation,” Oneida Chief of Police Mike Cross added.
The search warrant for Monday’s raid was filed by drug officers of the Oneida Police Department, with Scott County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Officer Kris Lewallen filing charges against each person present inside the residence.
Among items allegedly seized from the residence during the raid were 11 firearms, $2,400 in cash, a marijuana joint and bagged marijuana, Oxycontin pills, marijuana seeds, pill crushers, bagged methamphetamine, Xanax pills, Roxicodone pills, marijuana roaches and various other drug paraphernalia. Officers also seized a 40-inch flat screen television, several CB radios, scanners, car stereos, security cameras and other items.
Among those arrested were:
• David W. Slaven, 51, owner of the residence, charged with going armed while in commission of a felony, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (roxycoconde), possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax), possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (Oxycontin), being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, child endangerment, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft over $1,000.
• Cecilia Cooper, 35, charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child endangerment, three counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine, Roxycocodne and Oxycontin), possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax), possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft over $1,000;
• Steven Godsey, 22, charged with three counts of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine, Roxycocodne and Oxycontin), possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax), and possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Anthony Slaven, 29, charged with three counts of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine, Roxycocodne and Oxycontin), possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax), and possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Jacob Slaven, 24, charged with three counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine, Roxycocodne and Oxycontin), possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax), and possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Alisha Vaughn, 21, charged with attempting to possess a Schedule IV narcotic (Percocet); and,
• Joseph Posey, 21, charged with attempting to possess a Schedule IV narcotic (Percocet).
The suspects were transported to Oneida Police Department for booking procedures, and were later housed at the Scott County Jail. They were to have been arraigned in General Sessions Court yesterday (Wednesday) before Judge James L. (Jamie) Cotton, Jr.
Monday’s raid represented the latest in a number of large-scale efforts in recent months by local law enforcement agencies to curtail drug activity around the county. Since November 2006, dozens of suspected drug dealers have been indicted by a grand jury following undercover operations by the Oneida Police Department and Winfield Police Department, both in coordination with the Eighth Judicial District Drug Task Force. Also in 2007, local law enforcement carried out a large operation that resulted in the disruption of a suspected methamphetamine pipeline into Scott County.