Almost 50 people have been arrested over the past few days and weeks as part of “Operation Summer Jump” by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office.

Beginning in May, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit initiated Operation Summer Jump to combat street-level narcotic distribution and illegal firearm possession in the furtherance of drug trafficking.

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office was assisted throughout the operation by the Kinston Police Department (KPD), Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections — Lenoir County Probation.

On Wednesday, the LCSO concluded Operation Summer Jump with the assistance from the KPD Violent Crimes Action Team (VCAT). Deputies developed a total of 53 suspects throughout the investigation and obtained arrest warrants for the individuals. Detectives apprehended all but four of the suspects. Those suspects are waiting to be apprehended and will be apprehended.

Deputies executed a total of 13 search warrants and seized a total of 20 firearms and various narcotics.

The charges from the operation include:

·      trafficking methamphetamine

·      trafficking opium/heroin

·      possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

·      sell and/or deliver methamphetamine

·      sell and/or deliver heroin

·      sell and/or deliver Schedule II

·      possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine

·      possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a school

·      carrying a concealed gun

·      possession of a stolen gun

·      possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana

·      maintaining a dwelling

·      conspiracy to sell/or deliver cocaine

·      conspiracy to sell/or deliver methamphetamine

·      possession of a controlled substance on jail premises

Here are the suspects who were arrested (in alphabetical order)

·      Jeremy Bell, 26, Kinston

·      Tevin Bizzell, 30, Dudley

·      Travis Bizzell, 49, La Grange

·      Isaiah Brock, 28, Kinston

·      Jaihiem Cannon, 21, La Grange

·      James Cherry, 61, Kinston

·      Amanda Dawson, 44, Kinston

·      Andre Dawson, 38, La Grange

·      Bobby Dawson, 42, La Grange

·      Rathel Dixon Jr., 35, Pink Hill

·      Ashley Edwards, 35, Kinston

·      Adraine Farris, 33, Kinston

·      Samuel Harrison, 38, Kinston

·      Rozayln Hill, 19, Kinston

·      Kenneth Holden, 64, Kinston

·      Jamaronte Jones, 23, LaGrange

·      Kasheena Jones, 32, Kinston

·      Ronnie Jones, 68, Albertson

·      Bernon Kennedy, 55, Kinston

·      Stacy Kinsey, 49, Kinston

·      Jocelyn Leigh, 35, Kinston

·      Teresa Malpass, 32, Kinston

·      Mark Mann, 66, Kinston

·      Terry Marshburn, 61, Kinston

·      Brandon Maye, 35, La Grange

·      Donavan McNeil, 22, La Grange

·      Michael Morgan, 35, La Grange

·      Alexander Pate, 66, Kinston

·      Candy Marie Pero, 21, Kinston

·      Charles Powell Jr., 32, La Grange

·      Randy Powell, 43, Kinston

·      Dewey Price II, 33, Kinston

·      Lisa Price, 45, Kinston

·      Stephen Pridgen, 33, Kinston

·      Cameron Rose, 32, Kinston

·      Desmond Rouse, 35, Kinston

·      Lilly Shifflet, 19, Kinston

·      Edward Smith III, 34, Kinston

·      Leonard Smith, 50, La Grange

·      Tyler Stallings, 18, Kinston

·      Breanna Summerlin, 35, Kinston

·      Michaela Sutton, 24, La Grange

·      Billy Taylor, 30, Kinston

·      Kenneth Ray Taylor, 66, Kinston

·      Preston Tyer, 31, Kinston

·      Paul Washington, 33, La Grange

·      Adam Williams, 38, Kinston

·      Calvin Williams, 49, Kinston

·      Nathan Yates, 18, Kinston

WANTED:

·      Christopher Farris, 32, Kinston

·      Timothy Jones, 25, Kinston

·      Lonnie Rodgers, 46, Kinston

·      Brandon Suggs, 34, Grifton (additional warrants)

Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers said he was extremely proud of his hard-working deputies and the law enforcement officers that assisted in Operation Summer Jump.

“I would also like to thank the residents of our county for calling in and reporting these individuals who are selling drugs in our community,” Rogers said.

The sheriff also praised the recovery court program led by Chief District Judge Beth Heath.

“I would add that by getting these dealers, drugs and illegal guns out of our communities, we also have a strong partnership with the 9th Judicial District Accountability and Recovery Court program led by Judge Heath,” Rogers said. “Recovery courts save lives and make communities safer. 

“I want these individuals — and individuals that bring this poison into our communities — to know they are not welcome and this will not be tolerated.”