Big Meth Bust

[Matt J]

Undercover Meth Investigation Puts 13 People Behind Bars

Several Law Enforcement Agencies staged early morning meth raids across the Panhandle and southern Alabama overnight, the culmination of 9-months worth of undercover work.
Walton County Sheriff's Officials hosted a news conference to talk about the success of "Operation Valley View".
The collaboration between agencies in Walton county, Holmes county and Geneva county, Alabama, resulted in charges against 13-people.
Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson says this operation could not have come at a more crucial time.
?It's been an unbelievable problem in Walton county and the surrounding area. Walton county is unfortunately one the leading counties in the state of Florida for the seizure of methamphetamine labs. Being in the top five for seizure and meth labs is a dubious distinction. However, I think it tells the people in this community and the surrounding area that we are doing everything we can to put a boot in it? Adkinson says.
Eight people were arrested during the overnight raids.
They're all facing a variety of drug charges.
Five people were already arrested, but authorities say they will face new charges as a result of this operation.
Two suspects, 55-year-old Billy Ray Blane and Chrissy Nicole Carroll are still at-large.
investigators say they consider Blane to be one of the main players in 'Operation Valley View'.
If you have any information about Blane or Carroll call Walton County Crimestoppers at 1-866-718-tips.

 

[poppy]

How will this effect the local Seaside drug dealers? Will we be forced to purchase our recreational drugs from the gangs in Rosemary Beach?

 

[nodilberthere]

How will this effect the local Seaside drug dealers? Will we be forced to purchase our recreational drugs from the gangs in Rosemary Beach?

Walmart is coming, I'm sure they'll be cheaper there.

 

[poppy]

Walmart is coming, I'm sure they'll be cheaper there.

True, but wouldn't you rather buy local than the cheap Chinese made drugs Walmart will be pushing?

 

[scooterbug44]

Kudos to law enforcement! Meth is nasty stuff and very dangerous, so glad they got some shut down!

 

[30ashopper]

I wonder how much money Walton County expends on marijuana policing and subsequent incarceration? I've always felt that Walton would be a great candidate county for the decriminalization of that drug. I wonder how much revenue the county could generate by issues fines vs. locking people up for possession of small amounts. I've never been able to track down any statistics on the subject though.

 

[scooterbug44]

I have been watching what is going on in other places where they decriminalized marijuana and have yet to be convinced it's a winning solution - at least yet. There are some definite and major wrinkles to be ironed out.

Lots of prescriptions being written by doctors w/ less than stellar credentials, idiots cooking hash indoors, people robbing the dispenseries and then robbing the clients, major increase in public use (pot smoke is the new 2nd hand smoke) and the press is broadcasting any incident nationally and it is hurting the "family" tourism industry.

I would love to see fines instead of jail time for minor offenses - jail costs us money.

 

[30ashopper]

I have been watching what is going on in other places where they decriminalized marijuana and have yet to be convinced it's a winning solution - at least yet. There are some definite and major wrinkles to be ironed out.

Lots of prescriptions being written by doctors w/ less than stellar credentials, idiots cooking hash indoors, people robbing the dispenseries and then robbing the clients, major increase in public use (pot smoke is the new 2nd hand smoke) and the press is broadcasting any incident nationally and it is hurting the "family" tourism industry.

Scooter - common misconception here, I'm not talking about legalization, I'm talking about decriminalization.

I would love to see fines instead of jail time for minor offenses - jail costs us money.

Exactly. In Walton, if you get caught with this stuff, you may go to jail. I'm thinking it should be treated more like getting caught speeding in your car.

I don't know if there are potential cost savings by doing this, but my initial perception is there would be. The cost of catching, processing, and possibly incarcerating someone is high, where as issuing a ticket for say, $500.00, generates revenue while still acting as a deterrent.

 

[LuciferSam]

Scooter - common misconception here, I'm not talking about legalization, I'm talking about decriminalization.



Exactly. In Walton, if you get caught with this stuff, you may go to jail. I'm thinking it should be treated more like getting caught speeding in your car.

I don't know if there are potential cost savings by doing this, but my initial perception is there would be. The cost of catching, processing, and possibly incarcerating someone is high, where as issuing a ticket for say, $500.00, generates revenue while still acting as a deterrent.

I think all drugs should be at least decriminalized and some outright legalized. Anybody who has ever had so much as a sip of alcohol enjoys using recreational drugs so the desire is universal. Who is government to interfere with a basic fundamental right? I do think however that when and if drug use is connected to crime and/or dangerous activity (other than drug use itself), law enforcement should have the right to step in as they would with an alcohol abuser and deny the person the right to engage in such activities. Furthermore, providing minors with drugs including alcohol is totally unacceptable.

 

[scooterbug44]

Scooter - common misconception here, I'm not talking about legalization, I'm talking about decriminalization.

I was talking about decriminalization too - it's not fully legal, that's why doctors with hinky licenses are writing so many prescriptions.

I think all drugs should be at least decriminalized and some outright legalized. Anybody who has ever had so much as a sip of alcohol enjoys using recreational drugs so the desire is universal. Who is government to interfere with a basic fundamental right? I do think however that when and if drug use is connected to crime and/or dangerous activity (other than drug use itself), law enforcement should have the right to step in as they would with an alcohol abuser and deny the person the right to engage in such activities. Furthermore, providing minors with drugs including alcohol is totally unacceptable.

I would support 21 years and strict enforcement for both marijuana and alcohol. Not sure about other ones - certainly not the cluster that is meth.