Drug bust nets 4 arrests

By Laura Johnson | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Local law enforcement officials took on an alleged drug dealer at a Camp Hill home Tuesday night and netted four arrests during a bust that yielded a variety of illegal substances.

Jeffery “the king of Camp Hill” Hill, 30, was charged with six counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana in the first degree and unlawful possession of Lortab.

Also arrested were Lorietta Lynn Knight, 28, Earl Dewayne Hill, 50, and Tommy Bowen Jr., 22, of Camp Hill. They were each charged with possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana in the first degree and unlawful possession of Lortab.

Earl Hill and Bowen were also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Late Tuesday when agents with the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force arrived with other area agencies at the Jack

Wilson Road residence to arrest Jeffery Hill after a long-term investigation.

The Alexander City Police Department’s Special Response Group entered the residence first and found all four suspects, drugs and paraphernalia inside, authorities said.

“The target of the investigation was Jeff Hill,” Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force coordinator Jay Turner said. “SRG hit the home first and he was armed, but there was no struggle. It went very smoothly.”

In the kitchen, agents found the drugs and items used to package them for sale. They also recovered money, firearms and three vehicles from the residence during the bust, Turner said.

“During the execution of the search warrant the drugs were found in the house and everyone went to jail because they were all in a common area,” Turner said. “There were paraphernalia items on the table where it appeared people were packaging.”

Turner added that agents believe Jeffery Hill supplied drugs to people in Chambers, Tallapoosa and Lee counties. He described the suspect as a “mid-level” dealer, with a criminal history.

“He was above street level,” Turner said. “He has a history of drug and violent offences.”

Turner said although Hill is only classified as mid-level, he is actually one of the most prominent dealers in the area. His arrest should put a short-lived dent in illegal drug operations in Camp Hill, according to Turner.

“It won’t stop it, but it should be something that stalls it for a while,” Turner said. “Others will pick up the slack where he leaves off.”

New Site Police, the Chambers County Drug Task Force, Alexander City Housing Authority and agents with Alabama Beverage Control also assisted in the arrests. The street value of the drugs recovered is about $3,000.

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