Pubdate: Sat, 16 Feb 2002
Source: Starkville Daily News (MS)
Copyright: Starkville Daily News 2002
Contact:  http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1760
Author: Brian Hawkins

TWO CHARGED IN KICKOFF OF MAJOR DRUG CRACKDOWN

Local authorities arrested two suspects on drug trafficking charges and are 
seeking a third in what they have deemed as the beginning of a major 
county-wide crackdown on illegal narcotics.

In a joint operation Tuesday night, Oktibbeha County sheriff's deputies, 
working with Starkville police officers, Tri-County Narcotics Task Force 
Agents and Mississippi Department of Corrections officers, arrested Sharon 
Jordan, 20, of 309 Santa Anita Drive, and Leonard "Cuz" Young, 51, of 3335 
Peppermill Drive, on individual charges of possession of crack cocaine with 
intent to distribute and conspiracy to sell crack cocaine.

Both Jordan and Young were still being held in the Oktibbeha County Jail 
Thursday afternoon on individual $25,000 bonds.

The arrests stemmed from information provided by an undercover informant 
about drug sales occurring at Jordan's home, said deputies Tommy Whitfield 
and Shank Phelps. Several hundred dollars' worth of crack cocaine was also 
seized in the bust, they said.

"We were able to confirm information that drugs were being sold from that 
residence and executed a search warrant," Whitfield said.

Another suspect, Napoleon "Country" Brooks, 31, of 1547 Chapel Hill, is 
actively being sought in connection with the Tuesday night bust that saw 
the arrests of Jordan and Young, Phelps said.

Brooks is wanted on a charge of conspiracy to sell crack cocaine.

He was last seen near Jordan's home Tuesday night and is known to have a 
home in the Crawford area, Phelps said.

The arrests Tuesday night are the beginning of a renewed push against 
narcotics trafficking across the county, Phelps and Whitfield said.

"If this were a football game, this would be the kickoff into the first 
quarter," Phelps said.

"We're looking to make a big change in this community."

Numerous complaints from residents about drug dealing in the city and 
county have prompted the Police and Sheriff's Departments, Tri-County, the 
Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to 
undertake this effort, they said.

"If any citizen knows a drug dealer or pusher or a drug user, we encourage 
them to call the Sheriff's Department or any law enforcement agency in the 
county or Crime Stoppers and report them," Whitfield said.

"We're going to do our best to get rid of drugs in Starkville, Oktibbeha 
County and at Mississippi State University."

Anyone with information about drug trafficking can contact the Starkville 
Police Department at 323-4134, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department at 
323-2421, the Tri-County Narcotics Task Force at 324-8484, the Mississippi 
Bureau of Narcotics at 323-3082 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 
1-800-530-7151.

All tips given to Crime Stoppers are confidential and could result in a 
reward of up to $1,000 for the caller if the tip leads to the arrest and 
conviction of a suspect in a felony crime. 
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