SAVANNAH, GA (January 21, 2015) A no-knock search warrant delivered simultaneously to two houses in the Cuyler Brownsville neighborhood led to the arrest of six individuals and the seizure of drugs, weapons, cash and tools to support a large-scale drug operation Tuesday morning.
The raid by Central Precinct Tactical Investigation Unit officers, Crime Suppression Units from the Central and Islands precincts, and the SWAT team of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department culminated a long-term TIU investigation into illegal activity in the two houses.
Those detained and later arrested and charged included:
- Shavar Levert Spence, 30, trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (four counts), possession of a firearm during commission of a crime, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, and possession of a controlled substance MDMA (Molly.)
- Blanche Renee Spence, 49, trafficking in cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
- Eurasia Shareka Shantell Williams, 24, trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance MDMA (Molly.)
- Akilah Laquana Colonel, 21, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
- LaJordan Christopher Johnson, 21, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
- Corinthian Lamar Colonel, 17, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
“This was a significant operation,” said Central Precinct Capt. DeVonn Adams. “The goal was not only to halt the sale of dangerous drugs but to protect this neighborhood. Those involved in drug operations like this also are involved in violent crimes and we found enough weaponry to inflict serious harm to a large number of people. The neighborhood is safer with these people, these weapons and these drugs off the street.”
SWAT officers surrounded and stormed the houses on the 2400 block of Harden Street and the 600 block of West 41st Street at 6 a.m. after determining that sales of marijuana, cocaine and the hallucinogens crystalized MDMA and Molly (Ecstacy) were being sold.
The six occupants of the Harden Street house were initially detained then charged after TIU agents found drugs, handguns, semi-automatic weapons and a sub-machine gun, ammunition, various plastic baggies, body armor and tactical scope, scales and cell phones.
Metro Police Chief Joseph H. “Jack” Lumpkin Sr. said the TIU operation is indicative of what the public can expect from SCMPD as it steps up its effort on street level drug sales and the violence that accompanies it.
“A small number of people are committing a large number of crimes that plague neighborhoods like Cuyler Brownsville and the only way to stop them is to get them incarcerated and out of our community,” he said. “I commend the officers of TIU and SWAT for this operation and we will be facilitating more energy into crime groups in this area.”
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