Pounds of Meth and Pot, Dozens Of Guns Seized in Raid

ROCKMART, GA — Tens of thousands of dollars worth of meth and marijuana and 36 firearms, at least some of them stolen, were seized in a Paulding County raid, authorities announced Thursday.

On August 9, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Harals0n-Paulding Drug Task Force and detectives from the Paulding County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at 488 Roberson Rd. in Rockmart.

The raid was the culmination of a two-month investigation of the residents of the address, authorities say. It also dovetailed with the Hiram Police Department's investigation of 13 weapons stolen from Academy Sports in Hiram on August 2.

Detectives found about eight pounds of crystal meth, with a street value of $56,000, 4 1/2 pounds of marijuana valued at $18,000, and 36 firearms during the search, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Twelve of those firearms were found to be stolen from Academy Sports.

Four people were arrested in conjunction with the raid. They were charged with methamphetamine trafficking, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and multiple firearms charges. They are:

• Randall Casey Thomas, Jr., 41
• Erick Douglas Thomas, 38
• Mariah Lynn Barham, 24
• Emily Catherine Hardin, 22

Randall and Erick Thomas are still being held at the Paulding County Detention Center. Barham and Hardin were booked and have since been released on bond.

Photos courtesy Paulding County Sheriff's Office