Cherokee Concentrated Patrol Nets 19 DUI Arrests

August 1, 2005

(ATLANTA)—A massive concentrated patrol in Cherokee County Friday night resulted in the arrest of 19 suspected impaired drivers as well as several other arrests on drug charges.  The concentrated effort was coordinated by the Georgia State Patrol in Jasper and ran from 7 p.m. Friday until 3 a.m. Saturday throughout Cherokee County.

            According to Captain Joe Hamby, Troop Commander for the Jasper area, the operation resulted in 111 traffic citations, 19 of which were arrests for impaired driving.  Troopers, deputies and police officers also apprehended four fugitives, made five felony drug arrests, six arrests on misdemeanor drug charges, and recovered one stolen weapon linked to a burglary.  Authorities also issued 188 warnings.

            Captain Hamby said authorities confiscated 72.4 grams of cocaine, two grams of crystal methamphetamine, several pills of Oxycontin, and several arrests for small amounts of marijuana.

            During the operation, four teams under the direction of the Georgia State Patrol worked strategic locations throughout the county through road checks, speed and DUI enforcement.  Assisting in the concentrated patrol were officers from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Unit, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

            Captain Hamby said similar concentrated patrols are conducted throughout Northwest Georgia on a regular schedule and he expressed his appreciation to the other agencies that assisted in making the effort a success.

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