One Arrested on Drug Charge

IMG_1419An investigation by local and regional authorities leads to a drug arrest in Toccoa.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, and Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 Unit served a search warrant recently at a residence on Emily Street.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that search warrant was just one part of a multi-pronged effort that stemmed from an investigation that lasted several weeks.

“We had made some initial buys and as a result of those buys, search warrants were executed at three residences,” said Shirley.

According to authorities, search warrants were also served at residences on Norwood Avenue and Edwards Street.

The sheriff said state, regional, and local authorities worked together to search all three residences.

“We activated our DELTA unit who did a perimeter and agents with the GBI and Appalachian Drug Task Force went in,” said Shirley. “They were able to find a small amount of cocaine.”

Shirley said 46-year-old Robert Bryant of Norwood Avenue in Toccoa was arrested at the Emily Street location and charged with Distribution of Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

According to the sheriff, a semi-automatic handgun was found on Bryant and another belonging to Bryant was found at the Edwards Street residence.

Shirley said law enforcement also found a small cache of military items at the Emily Street residence.

Those items were turned over the Army Criminal Investigative Division.

Bryant, meanwhile, remains in custody at last report at the Stephens County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.