FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2012
Yesterday, July 24, 2012, Agents of the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS), arrested Richard Chad Edwards of Woodstock for two counts of sale of Heroin, Trafficking Heroin and possession of Marijuana and Cocaine. Also arrested was Brandon Lamar Ray of Acworth for Trafficking Heroin, possession of Marijuana, Cocaine and Heroin. This is the first Trafficking in Heroin charge ever made by CMANS.
Heroin, a narcotic that has been abused in the US since before the turn of the 20th Century, has previously been known as an urban drug. Heroin sales were limited to section of downtown Atlanta, in Northern Georgia. The disturbing trend of seeing Heroin use and sales in the suburbs is being recognized nationally as a significant drug trend of concern.
Phil Price, Commander of CMANS, pointed out “Several of the people we have arrested with Heroin in recent months have said that it was CMANS’ success in cutting down on the flow of prescription drugs into the wrong hands that has pushed users into the purchase of Heroin. Heroin has a similar high to Oxycontin, and is easily injected.”
Other factors, such as changes in the formula of prescription pain killers, have also helped lead to the sudden surge in Heroin in counties like Cherokee.
The law enforcement executives who make up the CMANS Control Board (Sheriff Roger Garrison, Chief Robert Merchant of Canton PD, Chief Ken Ball of Holly Springs PD, Chief Calvin Moss of Woodstock PD, and Chief Dana Davis of Ball Ground PD) strongly support the aggressive enforcement of the laws against these deadly drugs. The citizens of Cherokee County deserve a safe community to live and work in, and the cooperative effort of all these agencies is the reason CMANS has been successful.
For more information see: http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/0717/oxycontin-abusers-switching-to-heroin-in-wake-of-formula-change.aspx?xid=aol_eh-emo_1_20120723_&aolcat=HLT&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl20%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D182858
The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad is a joint task force working in Cherokee County to investigate drug related violations. Participating agencies include the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Canton Police Department, the Woodstock Police Department, the Holly Springs Police Department, the Ball Ground Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, the Cherokee County BOE Police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia State Patrol. Citizens may call in tips anonymously to (770) 345- 7920, or may speak to an agent by calling (770) 704-2350.
