Pike County Sheriff Charles “Fuzzy” Keesee’s deputies struck it lucky and “got their suspect,” a man described by Keesee as “one of our major drug dealers.”
Keesee said Terry Fields, 54, had a major operation going on with several ‘runners” being used to spread out into a wider area and enlarge the drug trafficking ring. The sheriff said Fields had no legitimate employment.
Fields is lodged in the Pike County Detention Center on two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree; two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, third degree; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia, first degree.
Keesee said the sheriff’s department has been keeping track of Fields and his helpers for some time. “We received an anonymous tip and our department was able to obtain a search warrant for the suspect’s home.”
Armed with the search warrants, the sheriff’s corps de police went to work. Chief Field Deputy Bert Hatfield and deputies Tolbert Ratliff, Brian Conley and Shawn Scott executed the warrant and the location and confiscation of drugs and other items followed.
Seized as officers made their way through the Fields house were crack cocaine, a large quantity of cocaine, numerous prescription pills such as Xanax, Valium and Fiorocets, and scales on which to weigh the drugs.
Also seized was $18,108 in cash and two handguns (9 mm. pistols). The sheriff estimated the items were valued in excess of $50,000. The currency included 129 bills of $100 denomination; 97 bills ($50); 13 bills ($20), and others in smaller denominations.
Keesee said the drugs were concealed in various places, noting that a rock of crack cocaine was recovered from beneath a dog in the master bedroom of the house. The rear bedroom yielded an ashtray containing marijuana roaches and a water pipe.
He said a 9 mm. semi-automatic Ruger pistol was recovered from between box springs and a mattress in the master bedroom, while an a 9 mm. Derringer pistol was found beneath a pillow in that bedroom.
Keesee listed other items found and confiscated by the raiding officers:
A styrofoam plate with brown napkin, covered with crack cocaine and steel wool, recovered from bedside of defendant; plastic tupperware containers labeled “C” and “B” with each containing a white powdery substance. The sheriff said defendant Fields identified the container labeled “C” as one used for Cocaine. The containers were recovered from a sink cabinet in the master bathroom.
Also recovered from the bath cabinet were various drug paraphernalia, such as plastic bottles with holes in them (crack pipes); hemostats, various measuring spoons, steel wool and plastic bags.
A brown paper bag containing four plastic bags of white powdery substance, and approximately $17,000 in cash were recovered from the master bedroom, either in a dresser or in a purse under the mattress. A USPS box in the kitchen yielded a box of white pills. Also found was a quantity of controlled substances believed to be Valium or Xanax.
Keesee said Tuesday’s drug bust is the third major onslaught against drug traffickers in Pike County in the past four or five weeks.
“We are focusing on this type of operation because I think, by doing so, we are getting to those people who serve as runners for the dealers and enable the traffickers to enlarge their territory by contacting more people.”
The sheriff said he and his officers “are glad to be able to arrest and convict these types of traffickers. This is an ongoing effort and the cases will go before the Pike County Grand Jury in a couple of weeks.”
In addition to his deputies, the drug bust involved an undercover agent.
Keesee said four arrests were made in the two previous drug busts and two alleged traffickers have already been indicted on charges. In one of the raids, $4,000 in cash was confiscated. Both raids yielded a quantity of controlled substances and other items.
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