11 Firearms seized in recent collaborative effort to combat Criminal Street Gangs in Toccoa-Stephens County
Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley recently announced the first successful ongoing joint-collaboration with several local, state, and federal agencies to aggressively pursue Criminal Street Gangs in Toccoa-Stephens County.
On Thursday, November 4, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Georgia Bureau of investigation’s Cleveland Regional Field Office, the Toccoa Police Department, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to initiate a proactive collaborative operation here in Toccoa.
The operation, according to Shirley, was in response to an ongoing increase in violent crime in Toccoa.
In addition to safeguarding the community, federal, state, and local law enforcement were focused on collecting the most current criminal intelligence about local criminal street gangs operating in and around Toccoa.
The information will in turn assist law enforcement efforts in combating the existing criminal street gang activity.
Shirley says, as a result of the operation, law enforcement officers were able to seize a total of 11 firearms, which consisted of semi-automatic rifles, handguns, and shotguns.
Other evidence seized were various types of controlled substances, and a large quantity of Criminal Street Gang paraphernalia which identified street gang participation and activity.
Shirley says this was the first of what will be an ongoing collaboration between these agencies.
He says, “we will aggressively pursue those in our community who are active members or associates of criminal street gangs.”
Charles Colbert, 46, of Toccoa was arrested and charged with possession of a schedule IV drug, 9 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, 9 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes, misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Colbert has been released on a $142,000 bond.
Timothy Pasco, 25, of Toccoa was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, theft by receiving a stolen firearm, violation of the Georgia Street Gang and Terrorism Act. Pasco has been released on a $36,000 bond.
Eddie Neal, 29, of Toccoa was arrested and charged with probation violation. Neal is currently held without bond.
Jamarius Fortson, 22, of Toccoa was arrested and charged with probation violation and obstruction of an officer. Fortson is currently held without bond.
WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.