By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Eight Alabaster residents were arrested and charged with drug-related offenses after the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at three Alabaster residences.

The arrests came after a few months of investigation into complaints called into the Task Force, said Task Force Cmdr. Lt. Chris George.

Task Force members served warrants at two residences in the 200 block of Seventh Avenue Southeast, and one residence in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue Southeast.

“We got 10 guns off the street, and confiscated crack, cocaine, marijuana and some paraphernalia,” George said. “But the biggest thing is that we got a lot of complaints about the people in that (arrest) report, and those guys have been held accountable for their actions.”

Police arrested 33-year-old Alabaster resident Cecil Ray Dowdell and charged him with five counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dowdell’s bond was set at $171,000.

Also arrested was 46-year-old Alabaster resident Laura Mae Works, who was charged with five counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Works’ bond was set at $160,000.

Jimmy Ray Merchant, 55, of Alabaster, was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful possession of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $30,000.

Fifty-two-year-old Alabaster resident Mickel Anthony Merchant was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in drugs and one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $130,000.

Kristian Amanda Green, a 21-year-old Alabaster resident, was arrested and charged with three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $90,000.

Eighteen-year-old Alabaster resident Keith Deshawn Hudson was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, one count of first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $56,000.

Also arrested was Alexander Byrd, 42, of Alabaster. He was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and his bond was set at $6,000.

Seventy-six-year-old Alabaster resident Ocie Rusty Tanniehill was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $11,000.

“Last year was the deadliest year for law enforcement, and this year is on par to top that,” George said. “Every weapon you take off the streets, especially from drug dealers, is a win-win situation.”