webadmin posted on March 03, 2010 09:03
On Feb. 26-27, Statesville Police Officers, along with Iredell County Probation Officers, demonstrated to the community that they mean business when it comes to the Statesville/Iredell Gang Initiative (SIGI).
Over the two-day period, the two agencies “checked in” on the 20 offenders who attended SIGI’s notification session on Feb. 18. Four of the offenders were served with a total of 11 felony charges. Police Chief Tom Anderson said, “Two weeks ago, we warned these individuals to stop their illegal activities. We told them we would be watching them. Our arrests over the weekend should leave no one with any doubt that we mean business.”
Anderson said the weekend operations ranged from probation compliance house checks to traffic stops and warrant service. Officers searched 53 people, nine vehicles and 30 residences, resulting in seizures of two grams of cocaine, more than 274 grams of marijuana and $1,650 in case. In addition, officers served nine arrest warrants and filed 16 charges, including 11 felony charges, against four offenders who had attended the first notification session. They were all arrested for drug-related charges.
Arrested were: Mitchell Dewayne Hines, 28, 807-4 Cherry Ln., charged with Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, and Maintaining a Dwelling for the Purpose of Selling Marijuana; Delric Devan Inabinett, 22, 1585 W. Cloaninger Ave., charged with Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana; Tanner Hallman, 32, 231 Boyd St., charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Misdemeanor Maintaining a Dwelling for Use of Controlled Substance; and Raymond Dewayne Ramseur, 28, 431 Harrison St., charged with Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana.
These four received the same warning as the other 16 at the Feb. 18 notification session: “Stop your violent behavior. We are going to crack down on you and your groups with intense, focused action, followed up with swift, certain and severe punishments handed down via the courts,” said Anderson.
“SIGI has a strong foundational partnership with our District Attorney’s Office,” continued Anderson. Mikko Red Arrow, an Assistant D.A., has been presented with their cases.
But Anderson’s message also includes a plea to prior offenders to take positive steps to change their lives around. “We have a whole program to help them do this,” stressed Anderson. “We will welcome them back into the community and help them along the way. There are other options than imprisonment.”
This past weekend’s activities are just the beginning of how business has changed with law enforcement, explained Anderson. “I also promise more attention will be delivered to the offenders and their associates who continue to bring our communities into decline. The strong collaborative partnerships of SIGI will make a difference in our communities.”