Narcotics Agents Arrest 10 in Drug Sweep

Ten people have been arrested after agents with the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad executed search warrants at two homes in the county.

On Monday, CMANS agents searched a home on Shadow Circle in unincorporated Acworth where they discovered various amounts of methamphetamine, heroin and suboxone strips (a Schedule II controlled substance) at the residence.

Three people were arrested in that operation: Acworth residents Heather Fiveash, 30 and Nathan Maynor, 34, and Jessica Erd, 24, of Woodstock.

Maynor was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin and possession of a Schedule II substance. Additionally, Maynor also had an outstanding warrant for parole violation.

Erd was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of heroin. Fiveash, who was arrested after leaving the residence and being stopped by Cherokee sheriff’s deputies, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin and possession of MDMA.

An execution of a search warrant on Wednesday at a home on Golden Hills Drive in Woodstock garnered seven arrests:

• Angela Jean Dehaven, 48, Woodstock, charged with possession of methamphetamine and probation violation;
• Davida Jeanette “DJ” Waller, 27, of Acworth, charged with possession of methamphetamine;
• Deanna Cheri Gann, 22, of Woodstock, charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine;
• Joy Lynn Holcombe, 27, of Acworth, charged with possession of methamphetamine;
• Freddy Lee Miller, 38, of Ball Ground. charged with possession of methamphetamine;
• William Christopher Spivey, 25, of Acworth, charged with possession of methamphetamine; and
• Samuel James Thomas Smith, 22, Woodstock, charged with probation violation.

All the suspects mentioned above remain in custody at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center except for Smith who was transferred to the Bartow County Jail.

Maynor, Waller, Miller and Spivey are being held with no bond.

Erd’s bond is set at $22,750. Bond was also set for the following suspects: Fiveash at $33,600; DeHaven at $11,200, Gann at bond at $22,400 and Holcombe’s bond is set at $11,540.

CMANS does not routinely announce arrests, as publicity can hamper other confidential investigations. However, Commander Phil Price decided to make these arrests public to highlight the growing presence of heroin in Cherokee County.

They also serve to highlight the operations of the CMANS, he added.

Recently there have been two high profile incidents involving drug task forces in Georgia that have resulted in serious injury to a child and the death of a citizen in his home.

“We don’t want the citizens of Cherokee County to lump CMANS into the same group with all the other drug task forces in existence in this state,” Price added.

The commander pointed out that while CMANS agents have obtained less than five no-knock search warrants in the last year, none of warrants were executed as such.

“What that means is that CMANS supervisors recognized a high level of danger in these warrants, but found other ways to execute them,” he added. “ Entering a home, any home, is a dangerous proposition. CMANS agents make every effort to avoid those occasions where this must be done. And when it is, Agents knock on the door and announce loudly that they are law enforcement officers serving a legal warrant.”

The commander also speculated the subject of no-knock warrants will be a “hot-button topic” once the Georgia General Assembly convenes its 2015 legislative session. Another issue Price said will possibly come up is the level of training — particularly the kind of training that relates to so-called high risk Incidents — receive on an annual basis.

The required annual minimum in Georgia is 20 hours. CMANS agents train an average of 165 hours each year, and Price said those officials also engage in some form of training related to high-risk operations each month.

“We exceed the minimum because we feel that the citizens of this county expect us to do that, and they deserve that level of commitment,” Price added.

Price, who retired from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in 2006, has been the commander of CMANS since 2010.

The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad is a joint task force working in Cherokee County to investigate drug related violations. Participating agencies include the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Canton Police Department, Woodstock Police Department, Holly Springs Police Department, Ball Ground Police Department, Cherokee County Marshal’s Office, District Attorney’s Office for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia State Patrol.

Citizens may call in tips anonymously to (770) 345- 7920, or may speak to an agent by calling (678) 493-7625.

Photos: from left to right: Angela Jean Dehaven of Woodstock; Jessica Erd of Woodstock; Heather Fiveash of Acworth, Deanna Cheri Gann of Woodstock; Joy Lynn Holcombe of Acworth; Nathan Maynor of Acworth; Freddy Lee Miller of Ball Ground;Samuel James Thomas Smith of Woodstock; William Christopher Spivey of Acworth; and Davida Jeanette “DJ” Walle of Acworth. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office