TPD makes three arrests during two separate incidents

The Toccoa Police Department responded to an overdose at 86 Green Wood Circle on January 1. Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize says upon arrival officers and EMS personnel were able to resuscitate the victim. Evidence and interviews at the scene determined that the victim likely overdosed on heroin.

Mize says on January 3, the case was assigned to the Toccoa Police Department’s Narcotics Unit for further investigation. Using the evidence collected at the scene and other investigative techniques over the course of the next week it was determined that the heroin that caused the overdose had been purchased by the victim from Britt Jade Shackelford, 26, of Toccoa.

Toccoa Police Department’s Narcotics Unit secured Felony Warrants for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Use of Telephone to commit a felony. Toccoa Patrol Units were able to locate Shackelford on January 30, during a traffic stop.

Shackelford was arrested on the active Felony warrants and a search of the vehicle he was driving turned up more than one ounce of Methamphetamine.

Shackelford was additionally charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, driving with a suspended license, tag-light violation, possession of drug related objects and possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of Government Housing.

Shackelford is currently being held at the Stephens County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

In an unrelated incident, on January 27, the Toccoa Police Department’s Narcotics Unit with assistance from the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office concluded an investigation that led to a traffic stop by the Toccoa Police Department’s Patrol Unit on a 2016 Dodge Dart on Falls Road near Pressley Street.

During this stop, Willie Lee Gibson, 46, and Veon Ny’zeer Nicely, 17, both of Toccoa, were arrested with approximately one pound of Marijuana, a 9mm handgun and approximately $2,400 in cash.

Mize says, the investigation showed that Gibson, who was wearing a court ordered ankle monitor, was traveling from Toccoa to metro Atlanta to purchase large quantities of drugs to distribute in Stephens and surrounding counties.

Gibson was currently on bond for multiple drug charges including trafficking Methamphetamine and Heroin.

Gibson has been charged with driving on a suspended license, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and distribution of marijuana.

Nicely has been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a minor.

After Gibson and Nicely were arrested they were both taken to the Stephens County Jail.