SAVANNAH, GA (September 25, 2013): A prolonged investigation sparked by shootings and two homicides in the Live Oak area of east Savannah culminated today with a multiple-team police sweep and the arrest of six people.
The investigation was initiated after residents in the area reported that shootings – some leading to deaths – were related to drug activity in the area.
Today, Tactical Investigation Unit detectives from Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Central Precinct led the warrant sweep on three houses on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of East 38th Street.
They were joined by crime suppression unit officers from Central, Islands and West Chatham precincts, Probation and Parole and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams.
Besides the arrests, they also seized from the three locations various amounts of powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and MDMA, a drug known as “Molly.”
The investigation stemmed from several shootings in the area, including one at East 39th and Cedar streets on July 30 in which Syheem Spaulding, 15, and Dominique Bright, 18, were killed and Sha’nai Harris, 15, was injured. David Randy Daniels Jr., 21, is being sought for those shooting after murder warrants were taken by SCMPD Violent Crimes detectives.
The Tactical Investigation Unit is a squad of detectives from the Central Precinct assigned by Precinct Commander Capt. DeVonn Adams to concentrate on specific drugs and violent crimes cases, sometimes working undercover. It was created in late 2012 in reaction to Police Chief Willie Lovett’s challenge to precinct commanders to find innovative ways to reduce crime.
Adams praised the efforts of his officers and the units that accompanied them: “Today’s sweep was a great example of how we can significantly address crime in our areas by consolidating our resources and working with the residents we are charged to protect,” he said.
Charged were:
Marlon Ricardo McCray, 20, sale of controlled substance (crack cocaine), two counts sale of controlled substance (marijuana), conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of tools for the commission of a crime and obstruction by fleeing.
Ricky Maurice Johnson, 26, two counts sale of controlled substance (marijuana), two counts sale of controlled substance (cocaine), and possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Dominique Antwan Giles, 26, conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Latoya Renee Young-Evans, 24, three counts possession of controlled substance (cocaine and Molly,) possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute (crack cocaine.)
Malcolm Everett Orr, 22, possession of marijuana.
James Montrell Wong Jr., 23, probation violation.
Leave a Reply