June 20, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Over the course of the last few months, members of the newly formed Drug Task Force, consisting of officers of the Smithville Police and the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department have executed search warrants resulting in arrests.
In one of the cases, 32-year-old Joshua McAllen Beckham of White Street, Smithville was charged with sale and delivery of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, alteration of a serial number on a weapon, and for being an armed and dangerous felon. At the time of his arrest, bond was set at $61,500.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 22 while executing a search warrant at 303 White Street, a residence known to be occupied by Beckham, a convicted felon, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Smithville Police Officers found in Beckham’s bedroom a Harrington and Richardson 20-gauge shotgun with the serial number removed. Beckham had in his possession 1.6 grams of meth, several small baggies consistent with the resale of narcotics and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia items as well as a Cobra FS380 handgun.
Meanwhile 60-year-old James Bullard of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown was charged with possession of methamphetamine, Xanax, buprenorphine, and marijuana with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, bond was set at $97,500.
Sheriff Ray said that on May 31 officers executed a search warrant at 1429 King Ridge Road, Dowelltown. While conducting a search of the residence, two plastic baggies containing a white crystal substance believed to be meth, three pieces of yellow pills thought to be Xanax, and four and a half orange pills believed to be buprenorphine were located in a magnetic box from a bedroom. The search also turned up in the home, glass pipes, digital scales, a small glass jar and a metal container with white residue. During a search of Bullard himself, a plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found in his front left pants pocket.
“True public safety requires a collaboration between the Police Department and Sheriff’s Department. Working together we are able to combine our resources and work force to better fight the war on drugs in our communities,” said Police Chief Mark Collins.
“The Sheriff’s Department and Police Department are trying to use every available resource possible to stop the distribution of narcotics. We are committed to our citizens to provide strict, but fair, law enforcement efforts concerning the sale and/or delivery of narcotics in our cities within DeKalb County,” added Sheriff Ray.
More arrests are forth coming.