Three-month investigation ends with 15 arrests, 90 felony charges

Local law enforcement agencies announced Friday the completion of a three-month investigation that led to 15 area arrests, just the first step in the judicial process to follow.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Chapel Hill and Carrboro police departments, the Orange and Durham County sheriffs’ offices and the U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force.

“It’s the culmination of months of hard work,” Lt. Jabe Hunter of Chapel Hill police said. “It all comes down to the time when you actually pick people up.”

After monitoring known distributors to look for enough evidence to obtain search warrants, the agencies made the arrests the first week of February. These arrests, which stemmed from three search warrants, resulted in 90 felony charges.

Hunter said the investigations and subsequent arrests involved both street dealers and larger drug traffickers. He said the investigations primarily focused on cocaine and crack cocaine.

Though the number of arrests was unusually large, Hunter said the investigation process was business as usual. Since investigations and suspects are not confined to one place, Hunter said it was important to have the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies.

“We’re all about information sharing,” he said. “What affects us affects Carrboro and affects Orange County.”

Sgt. Chris Atack with Carrboro police said the focus of the investigation was regional.

“It was everyone putting an effort in the work pot and getting a result,” he said.

Lt. Thomas Cote, who works with the narcotics division of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, said the Carrboro police contacted his office to assist with getting a search warrant and arresting Louis Webb, who was charged with 18 crimes, including five counts of possession with intent to sell and distribute cocaine.

Cote said drug dealing often escalates to more violent crimes, so it’s best to stop dealing early.

“A case like this is great for the community,” he said.

Hunter said his department is always paying attention to trends and monitoring people who were recently released from the department of corrections.

Now that the suspects have been arrested and the evidence gathered, investigators must prepare for trial.

Hunter said the narcotics collected from the investigation will be sent to Raleigh for testing.

He said after the trial the drugs are usually destroyed but are sometimes used to train police dogs.

“Once folks are arrested, it’s by no means over,” Atack said.

For now, law enforcement officials can move on to other cases.

“For the community, I hope it sends a message that we aren’t going to tolerate drugs being sold on our streets,” Hunter said.

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