Large Drug raid ‘bust’ in Trinity
Groveton News - June 2007

TRINITY – An investigation into a pair of drug raids conducted in Trinity during the early morning hours of May 28 was continuing this week, according to Pct. 1 Constable Woody Wallace.
One of the raids – at an Emily Street residence -- was reported in the May 31 edition of The Trinity Standard but Wallace said this week that another also occurred at a Trinity residence located near the intersection of Robb and Kelly Streets.
In that raid, Sarah Parker was taken into custody on a marijuana possession complaint.
“Most of the drugs seized during the raids were found at the Emily Street residence but we did find some marijuana and what we believe to be a trace amount of cocaine at the residence at Robb and Kelly streets,” Wallace said.
The constable indicated that his office was involved in the case because it helped develop the information used to obtain search warrants for both residences. The raid was conducted by Officer Donald Fisher of the Trinity Police Department, members of the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department and the Pct. 1 Constable’s Department.
“Officer Donald Fisher was the lead investigator into these arrests,” Wallace said. “Officer Fisher wrote the affidavit for search warrants based on good information and both search warrants were signed by Justice of the Peace Bobby Nicholds
Describing the Emily Street raid as “one of the largest drug raids in Trinity,” Wallace said officers seized nearly half a pound of crack and powder cocaine as well as marijuana.
Tyra Tubbs, 18, of Huntsville and Gregory Turner of Trinity were arrested at the Emily Street residence and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. A third suspect, Jamel Johnson, fled the scene as officers arrived and a felony warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Wallace noted that both residences had gained attention by local law enforcement officers due to the “unusual amount of traffic in and out of the houses.”
The constable said his department gained “a great deal” of intelligence while conducting routine traffic enforcement in Precinct 1.
“The amount of information is unbelievable that law en-forcement officials can gather on routine traffic stops and these raids were a direct result of just that,” he said.
He noted that both raids were conducted without incident and that additional charges are pending results of laboratory analysis of materials seized during the raids.
Wallace said that Fisher was dismissed by the Trinity Police Department as a result of the raids.
“It is not clear why or what policy he violated, and I believe it is wrong how he had been treated,” Wallace said. “If anything, he should have been rewarded for the extra hours he worked on this investigation and how well it went.”
Trinity Police Chief Lynn Gentry confirmed this week that Fisher had been dismissed but said the matter involved violations of procedures both before and after the drug raids.
The Emily Street raid is a good case and the district attorney’s office is working on prosecuting it right now,” he said.
Gentry said the problem occurred because Fisher failed to inform the chief that the raid was taking place or that search warrants had been obtained.
He added that after the raids, a number of vehicles were impounded and towed without the proper paperwork being filed at the police department.
“We had a father come up here the next day wanting to know where his daughter’s car was and we had no record that it had been towed,” the chief said.