Staff Writer
GOODMAN HOLLOW - “You never get used to this, and it never stops bothering you,” stated Williamson Police Chief C.D. Rockel, as he was speaking with the Daily News about a drug bust that occurred at a residence at Goodman Hollow Tuesday night, which left a 3 ½ year old child without his parents.
Larry Waller, 40, and his wife Cindy Waller, 41, were arrested late Tuesday night on charges of delivery of a Schedule I controlled substance (Heroin) and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance (Crack Cocaine) following an investigation headed up by Mingo County Special Investigator Eugene Crum that included controlled buys.
A third individual, Summer Sharie Stewart, 24, of Columbus, Ohio was also at the residence and had been involved in the controlled buys that were made, and was taken into custody and charged with delivery of a Schedule I controlled substance (Heroin) and conspiracy to deliver a Schedule I controlled substance.
Several pieces of drug paraphernalia, scales, packaging material and cash were confiscated during the raid, along with prescription pills.
“I had arrested Larry a few years ago on drug related charges when his son was just a few months old,” remarked Chief Rockel. “This time around, the child was old enough to understand what was going on and was asking me to please not take his daddy to jail, that it was his birthday.”
“This child was an innocent victim who loves his parents and doesn’t understand anything about them breaking the law. All he knew was that police were there and took his daddy away.”
“Taking drugs off the streets and putting the dealers behind bars is our job but there’s causality of war in these cases, and they’re the children who didn’t ask for any of this and have no say in what bad decisions their parents have made. They are the true victims.”
Thus far, this is the first arrest within Mingo County that involves the sale of Heroin, but law enforcement relayed that they feel this is only the tip of the iceberg regarding this highly addictive drug.
The Waller’s and Stewart, who is five months pregnant with her 2nd child, were transported to the Williamson Police Station where they were booked on the drug charges and were then transported to the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden. The three defendants were arraigned via video by Mingo County Magistrate Dee Sidebottom. During the arraignment process, Magistrate Sidebottom is said to have found a technicality in the arrest warrant for Stewart and released the defendant from custody, although Chief Rockel, Investigator Crum and the prosecuting attorney’s office disagreed with the decision.
“We got the arrest warrant for Stewart reissued at approximately 4:30 on Wednesday but we weren’t sure if we could locate her before she fled back to Ohio,” stated Crum. “We had officers patrolling the Goodman Hollow area in case she returned to the residence, which is exactly what happened.”
“Police located Stewart in the driveway of the Waller’s home Wednesday evening with another individual who was helping her load her belongings in his vehicle,” said Rockel. “The man who accompanied Stewart was patted down and searched by my officers and was found to be in possession of prescription drugs that included Oxycontin, Hydrocodone and Marijuana.”
“He identified himself as being Dwayne Johnson but didn’t have any identification that stated a name, and claimed to be from the Columbus, Ohio area. He was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver a Schedule I controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a Schedule III controlled substance.”
“This makes 22 drug arrests since August 1, and we’re only getting started,” commented Crum. “Tips are rolling in and we are gaining the trust and respect of the citizens of this county who are tickled to death to see arrests being made. We’ve received an overwhelming show of support and gratitude from the public who say they are pleased to know that drug trafficking is no longer going to be tolerated or ignored in this county.”
“We’re investigating each and every complaint we receive, we don’t overlook any details. The tips we’ve received have played a vital role in all of the arrests we’ve conducted so far and we’re grateful for the public’s help. They want to see an end to the drugs in Mingo County as much as we do.”
The four defendants remain incarcerated in the Southwestern Regional Jail and Chief Rockel stated that there may be further charges brought against the Waller’s for child endangerment and neglect. More information regarding this case will be released to the public as it becomes available. An article outlining details and dangers of the drug Heroin, will be published in a future edition of the Williamson Daily News.
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