Brazil Times: Local News: BREAKING NEWS: Twelve agencies combine on massive drug raid

Clay County Sheriff Mike Heaton (left) and Deputy James Switzer bring a suspect into custody at the Clay County Justice Center Tuesday morning. More than 60 officers from county, state and federal agencies assembled for a sweep of almost 40 arrest warrants. Ivy Jackson Photo.

The local drug culture has a few less participants as of this morning.

Members of the Clay County Sheriff's Department were joined by officials from the United States Marshals Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Indiana State Police are currently scouring the area in hope of arresting suspects wanted on various drug-related arrest warrants.

Authorities confirmed that 39 warrants have been issued by the Clay County Prosecutor's Office, however, due to the ongoing investigation, more arrests may be made.

More than 60 officers from county, state and federal agencies assembled around 4:30 a.m., Tuesday morning, to organize for the warrant sweep of a number of residences in Clay, Parke, Owen, Hendricks and Monroe counties.

The warrants are for various drug-related charges that range from A felonies to B misdemeanors.

The possible sentences for a conviction in that range are as follows:

* A Felony: 20 - 50 years,

* B Felony: 6 - 20 years,

* C Felony: 2 - 8 years,

* D Felony: 6 months - 3 years,

* A Misdemeanor: 0 - 1 year, and

* B Misdemeanor: 0 - 180 days.

The task force consisted of officers from the CCSD, Clay City Police Department, Brazil City Police Department, Clay Community Corrections, Clay County Probation Department, Indiana State Police (Terre Haute and Bloomington posts), Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Parke County Sheriff's Department, the Department of Natural Resources, DEA and the U.S. Marshals Office.

The Department of Family and Child Services were on standby for situations where children are involved and Clay County Prosecutor Lee Reberger and Deputy Prosecutor Kim Jackson were also in the field to assist in serving warrants.

Jail transport vehicles were being used to pick up those who have been arrested.

Suspects, many awakened from their sleep, were taken into custody during the warrant sweep and were brought to the Clay County Justice Center for booking and are awaiting formal arraignment per the court schedule.

The Brazil Times will update this story as details become available.

Book "em Dano!

-- Posted by sassypants on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 8:25 AM

Thank God!

Good work, guys!

-- Posted by Thoughtful on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 9:24 AM

GREAT JOB !!! Thank You For Getting TRASH off the Streets. My Chil;dren thanks you also

-- Posted by Sand mann on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 9:58 AM

Thank-you!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by ptcruisernms on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 9:59 AM

Way to GO! Send em away!

-- Posted by tenspeed1984 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 10:04 AM

GREAT JOB! Now all that needs done is bring back the chain gangs and let them clean and cutweeds alone the county roads and state hyw.

-- Posted by OLDTIMER42 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 10:49 AM

WTHI has a list of all that were arrested and all they are looking for!

Nice job law enforcement 25 and counting!!!!

-- Posted by sassypants on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 12:01 PM

It is heartbreaking to see the names of so many of my former students/parents on that list. How they change as years go by!! Kudos to all the law officials involved in this latest sweep. Keep up the good work!

-- Posted by Bigpappy on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 1:04 PM

I have called the clay county sheriff's dept on many occasions regarding my former spouse. I do not have it in for him, however I do have a child that must go there for visitation. I always speak to the same Jerry Siddons with no luck. What's the problem? You could find drugs on him amy given day from pot to meth to prescription drugs. I have also turned him to FSA, but since my child has not yet been physically harmed, they won't do anything. What's wrong with some prevention. I worry sick every other weekend not knowing what crack pot is around my child. If anyone from the sheriff's dept reads this today, you know who he is - I called again. If I keep her from him I am violating a court order and will go to jail for that, however he can take her on runs to collect money! Where is the justice for my child????

-- Posted by madmom on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 1:29 PM

Thanks to all involved. I agree with OldTimer...put them back on a chain gang!

-- Posted by th1953 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 2:03 PM

The police needs to shutdown these drug dealings. I agree with Old Timer too.....book them, make them pay for their time by hard work and NO BAIL !!!!! Seems like from what I hear, they have it too easy in jail and prison. There is better things in life and drugs.

Thanks to our policemen for all their hard work.

-- Posted by littleman2 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 2:50 PM

-- Posted by littleman2 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 2:51 PM

-- Posted by littleman2 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 2:55 PM

Excellent Work!! Takin' out the trash one dope head at a time.

Hopefully this will keep some of them away from our kids when school starts.

-- Posted by Localguy1972 on Tue, Aug 5, 2008, at 5:20 PM

In Georgia we do not have chain gangs, but our county prisoners work picking up trash and maintaining roads, cleaning up parks ect. They earn their keep, they don't sit in a cell all day. THEY WORK!

-- Posted by braziliancracker on Wed, Aug 6, 2008, at 4:05 PM

Thanks Brazil for a job well done, get these drugs off the streets, need to get the dealers too, they are the real big problem!!

I pray for all the familes of those arrested, it is not an easy thing to go through, I have been there. Lets get Brazil back to a town all can be proud of again!!! Keep up the good work Law Enforcement officers!!!!

-- Posted by maryruth51 on Thu, Aug 7, 2008, at 8:24 AM