HOMER — Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed has released more details about those arrested during Friday's raids at locations in Homer and Alto.
"We utilized Hall County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team at my request due to the exigent circumstances and the number of people involved in this operation," Speed said. "We had three search warrants here in Banks County that we wanted to serve simultaneously."
The first search warrant was at 186 Daily Road, Alto, where officers arrested Tessa Lynn Croy, 50, and Robert Terry Croy, 54.
"Both of those subjects were taken into custody without incident," Speed said.
A search warrant also was served at 365-A Athens St., Homer, where Margie Lynn Thacker, 69, was arrested. Speed identified Thacker as the mother of Tessa Lynn Croy.
The third search warrant was served at 266 Evans St., Homer, and resulted in the arrests of Joseph Dillard Hanley, 46; Crystal Gail Sherrill, 37; Barbara Kathleen Nation, 55; and Michael Donaldson, 31.
"All of those subjects were taken into custody at that residence without incident," Speed said. "We recovered narcotics and other drug-related objects at that residence — all three residences."
Speed said the need to execute the search warrants simultaneously was heightened by the relationships between the accused.
"All of these individuals were intertwined in one way, shape, form or another," Speed said."
Friday's arrests were made by officers of the Banks County Sheriff's Office, Hall County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, Lee Arrendale K9 Unit and Georgia State Patrol Aviation.
"The search warrants were served by the Hall County SWAT Team," Speed said. "Again, I'd like to thank the Hall County Sheriff's Office for allowing those folks to come out and help us with this endeavor."
The lengthy, indepth probe involved local drug agents as well.
"This has been an ongoing investigation with the Banks County Sheriff's Office and the Appalachian Drug Task Force," Speed said. "This is something that has been months in the making and I'm glad to see that it came to fruition."
There were no injuries reported, and Speed said all officers remained safe.
"All people, everybody that was involved, went home safe today and the suspects all went to jail and not going to be able to sell any more illegal drugs and narcotics in Banks County," Speed said. "At this time, there are numerous charges."
While the exact charges on each individual haven't been listed as yet, Speed gave an idea of what each is facing.
"On Tessa Croy and Ricky Croy, they're going to be selling narcotics, as far as prescription pain pills — different kinds of pain pills — as well as methamphetamine," Speed said. "Ms. Thacker, the same charges are going to be for her. Most of the drugs that were involved in this investigation are going to be pain pills, narcotics and methamphetamine."
Speed confirmed there were weapons in possession of those arrested.
"Actually there were some weapons recovered at the residence on Daily Road, the residence on Athens Street -- actually there were weapons recovered at all three residences," Speed said.
The operation began around 8 a.m. Friday and will continue to keep officers busy for several days. Speed said locations have been secured with deputies in place to preserve any evidence until investigators complete their work.
"We're currently still clearing the search warrants and the items that we're investigating and we probably will be through the weekend into the first part of next week," Speed said.
