From top, left to right: Barry Wise, Christopher Lewter, Christy Eddy, David Wilhelm, Devron Drake, Donald Lynn Jr.Second from left: Gary Brown, Gerald Bailey, Gregory Baskins, James Doss, Judy HAll, Justin Smith.Third row from left: Logan Ayers, Matthew Johnson, Morgan Duckett, Ralph Reeves, Rita Ivey, Robert Hood.Fourth row from left: Shelby Garrett, Sonya Chappell, Tammy McFadden, Wade Williams, William Hardy, William Johnson.

Cullman police arrested 24 people Tuesday on drug and theft charges in what an officer described as a felony warrant roundup.

“The majority of the charges were drug-related, but often drug crimes and thefts go hand-in-hand,” Capt. Becky Boyd of the Cullman Police Department noted in a press release. 

“The felony warrant roundup was the result of work by investigators, primarily by Investigators Justin Craft and Scott Sanford who are dedicated to working narcotic crimes, and a newly formed team of officers focused on suppressing crime in the City of Cullman. This team is made up by officers Trey Higginbotham, Dustin Colburn and Cole Kelley. They are led by Sgt. Chris Thomason. The team has been working since early summer and has focused on combating drug problems, working in high crime areas, serving outstanding warrants as well as working general patrol during shift shortages.”

Having the team in place has resulted in about 200 cases, which include some of the warrants served on Tuesday. These cases have included undercover drug operations, trafficking and possession of illegal drugs which have included methamphetamine, crack cocaine, opiates and an assortment of other illegal drugs, recovery of stolen property and forgery, according to Boyd’s news release

Investigators Craft and Sanford’s primary responsibilities are working narcotics. They work all cases involving the theft of medications, follow up on all tips received from the public of illegal drug use, conduct undercover operations which includes drug buys and search warrants do surveillance and serve warrants.

Craft and Sanford and the Crime Suppression Team often work together in their duties. 

“This has been extremely beneficial in the efforts of the department to combat illegal drugs in our community,” Boyd said.

The felony warrant round up was conducted by the Investigative Division, Crime Suppression Team and assisted by patrol Sgt. Intae Suh and Officer Kelly Hubbard.

“I could not be prouder of the work of all officers involved in this operation. We are dedicated to serve our citizens and will continue to be proactive in our efforts to limit criminal activity in our community,” Boyd said. “I would also like to pass along a message from Investigators Craft and Sanford to anyone selling illegal drugs in our community, ‘Anyone selling drugs in Cullman should know that the warrant book in not empty. Your name may still be on our list and we will coming to see you.’ “

Suspects arrested in the warrant roundup include:

• Robert Clifford Hood, 59, Holly Pond, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• Morgan Alyssa Jowers Duckett, 23, Holly Pond, unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle.
• Donald Joe Lynn Jr., 26, of West Point, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Devante Lashaun Smith, 21, of Birmingham, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• Logan Ashleigh Ayers, 21, of Cullman County, theft of property, second degree.
• Sonya Olivia Sharee Chappell, 23, of Hanceville, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• Gerald Allan Bailey, 55, of Eva, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• David Michael Wilhelm, 24, Cold Springs, unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree.
• William Russell Hardy, 43 of Hayden, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• Christy Lee Eddy, 37, of Hanceville, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• Christopher Shane Lewter, 39, of Hanceville, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• Devron Drake, 19, of Cullman, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of prescription drugs.
• Wade Alan Wilhite, 35, of Vinemont, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Barry Ray Wise, 47, of Cullman, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
• James Doss, 72, of Cullman, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (morphine and hydrocodone pills).
• Judy Waldrep Hall, 62 of Cullman, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (Oycodone pills).
• Gary Wayne Brown, 61, of Cullman, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (Tramadol pills).
• Ralph Edwin Reeves, 57, of Welti, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (suspect on probation at time of arrest).
• William Newton Johnson, 59, of Cullman, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and Clonazepam pills).
• Tammy Leigh McFadden, 27, of Berlin, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Matthew Johnson. 33, of Berlin, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Gregory Baskins, 28, of Sheffield, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Rita Ivey, 43 of Foley, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Justin Smith, 41, of Arab, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.