FROM STAFF REPORTS

After a lengthy six-month narcotics investigation, involving undercover operations and surveillance, the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested nine individuals May 12, according to a SCDTF press release.

With the assistance of the Alabaster and Pelham police department and the Shelby County Tactical Response Unit, the SCDTF initiated “Operation Trifecta,” targeting key suppliers and dealers of cocaine, crack cocaine, prescription narcotics and marijuana.

Nine individuals were arrested at about 7 p.m. May 12 in the area of 7th Avenue South East in Alabaster, according to the release. Only three targets remain at large, as of May 13.

“This is the result of tireless investigative hours and is a true victory for the residents of West Shelby County,” said Lt. Clay Hammac, commander of the SCDTF. “These individuals were linked to one of the major supply chains of crack cocaine in West Shelby County, and we are pleased to put them out of business.”

The following individuals were arrested May 12 in Alabaster and were charged as follows:

• Barry Warren McNeil – conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime
• Daisy Cunningham – unlawful possession of marijuana II and receiving stolen property
• Demetrius Gaiters – three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
• Jimmy Ray Merchant – unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
• Kenneth Darrell Green – unlawful possession of marijuana II
• Kevin Shawn Hale – three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
• Marlon Germaine Hale – three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
• Toneca Shewan Taylor – possession of marijuana II and probation violation
• Walter Louis Tanniehill – four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

The following individuals were still at large for the listed charges as of May 13:

• Alfred Oneal Sampson – multiple counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
• James Curtis Hale – unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
• Terence Fitzgerald Hale, Sr. – two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and probation violation