Sheriff’s Office makes relentless sweep across county
Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane Jr. said since January, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators have made numerous arrests for fentanyl, methamphetamine, stolen property and theft, and firearm offenses.
Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane Jr. said since January, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators have made numerous arrests for fentanyl, methamphetamine, stolen property and theft, and firearm offenses.
Lane said the arrests have been from one end of the county to the next.
He said while deputies and investigators are always extremely busy, the past couple of months have been even busier.
“The last few weeks have been really hectic,” Lane said. “We’ve been able to take several drug dealers off our streets and also solved a couple of burglary cases we were working on. We have arrested people from Gum Springs to Nicut and everywhere in between.”
Lane said some of these cases include: Jan. 13, 2023 – Deputy Blakely Smith made a traffic stop in the Gum Springs community, north of Gore, where he discovered the driver, Christopher Outlaw, had an outstanding warrant in Sebastian County, Ark. As Smith was placing Outlaw under arrest, he found a plastic baggie containing a large amount of white powder substance that later tested positive for fentanyl and was found to have a total weight of over 25 grams.
Outlaw was charged with aggravated trafficking of fentanyl, possession of controlled dangerous substance and the outstanding warrant.
Feb. 3, 2023 – Deputy Daniel Whitus made a traffic stop near the Marble City community. Assisted by Deputies Galen Irvin and Justin Deuley, the deputies located numerous baggies containing a white crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
As a result of the investigation, Whitus arrested Mark B. Green and John Jumper and charged both with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute.
During the arrest, Whitus contacted Sheriff’s Investigator Steven Jenkins about an investigation he was currently working on a copper theft in the Marble City area. Whitus remembered photos from the theft location, which showed a vehicle matching the one Green was currently driving.
Jenkins and Investigator Dwayne Frizzell interviewed Green at the jail about the copper theft, where Green reportedly admitted to taking the copper and also implicated Jumper as helping him steal it. Jenkins then charged both subjects with grand larceny.
March 4, 2023 – Deputy Dewaine Chase made a traffic stop in the Nicut community where he recovered a firearm and a large amount of crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Chase arrested James Mathis and charged him with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine), possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and felon in possession of a firearm after former felony conviction.
Lane said Mathis has a previous felony conviction for drug charges in Sequoyah County.
March 15, 2023 – The Sheriff said another big case worked by Investigator Gene Wheat finally saw a conclusion in federal court in Oklahoma City last month.
Joseph Hernandez was sentenced to two life sentences, plus 20 years by a federal grand jury for the brutal 2019 killing and burning of Audrey Hernandez and Frances Wright in Marble City.
March 16, 2023 – Deputy Austin Blackfox made a traffic stop in Moffett, where he was assisted by Deputy Shane Petree. The two reportedly recovered over 30 grams of crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
Lane said Blackfox arrested John Smith and charged him with trafficking controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine).
March 21, 2023 – Sequoyah County deputies and investigators executed a narcotics search warrant Frizzell had obtained for a residence in the Gans community. During the search, authorities recovered a large amount of substances that tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as marijuana and a firearm.
Arrested in the home were James Jacobs and Jessica Ragsdale. Records show that Jacobs is currently on federal probation for previous narcotic related charges. Therefore, he was charged with trafficking controlled dangerous substance (fentanyl), possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, and possession of marijuana after former felony conviction.
Ragsdale was charged with trafficking controlled dangerous substance (fentanyl), possession of controlled dangerous substance ( methamphetamine) with intent, and possession of marijuana after former felony conviction.
March 31, 2023 – Sheriff’s investigators and deputies executed a narcotics search warrant Jenkins had obtained for a room at the El Siesta motel in Vian.
During the search, they reported recovering crystalline substances that tested positive for methamphetamine. Arrested as a result of this investigation were Donna Isaacs, Rosa Mariah Jackson, Joshua Berry and Jessica Howard.
Isaacs was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia, while the other three were charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine).
April 2, 2023 – Deputy Steven Edwards was assisted by Deputy Andrew Edwards on a traffic stop on Interstate-40 near Sallisaw, where they seized a few pounds of illegal marijuana and over $21,000 in cash.
April 3, 2023 – Deputies and investigators teamed up once again to execute another narcotics search warrant Jenkins had obtained for a residence in the Nicut community.
During the search, authorities recovered a large amount of crystal substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine, baggies, scales, U.S. currency, and numerous firearms. One of the firearms was found to have been stolen from a residence in Sequoyah County about a year prior.
Arrested from the residence was Anthony “Butch” Williams. He was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, possession of stolen firearm, possession of firearms in commission of felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
“Also, over the last couple of months, Investigator Chris Grizzle has also filed several cases in federal court for felons in possession of firearms and narcotics violations,” Lane said. “Those awaiting grand jury hearings to possibly be facing federal charges are James Mathis, Terry Dunnavent, Johnathan Williams, Cory Pettit and James Jacobs.”
Lane said he is proud of the hard work his deputies and investigators do.
“These guys and girls don’t get the recognition and appreciation they deserve, but they don’t do this job for the recognition, they do it because they love it,” Lane said. “Our deputies and investigators have a great work ethic, passion and relentless drive to get the drug dealers, thieves and career criminals off our streets.”
Lane said he could list many more cases his team has worked recently.
“This is just a small sample of some of the bigger arrests these guys have made over the last few months. They did all this while still responding to pretty much non-stop calls and reports every day,” he concluded.
