Birmingham, AL 06/11/2018
Chandler Logan Nichols
Darius Brown
Erik Malone
Gabriel Lopez Mathews
Johnny Lee Smith
Sheriff’s Patrol and Narcotics Divisions along with the Metro Area Crime Center have worked to remove guns and drugs from neighborhoods across Jefferson County.
Four unrelated significant arrests have been made in recent weeks that resulted in the seizure of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, opioids, marijuana, firearms, and homemade suppressors. A stolen truck was also recovered. Four people have been charged with Trafficking Illegal Drugs and a fifth has been charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
On May 21, Sheriff’s Narcotics investigators stopped a suspected heroin dealer in Hueytown. A search of his car revealed a plastic bag containing heroin. A search warrant was obtained and his home was also searched. During the search of the home deputies discovered 14 more bags containing heroin, 2 rifles one of which had been reported stolen and another that had been illegally altered, 2 handguns, a 12 gauge shotgun, and 2 illegal homemade suppressors commonly referred to has silencers. In this case the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Johnny Lee Smith of Hueytown, was arrested and charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Federal firearms charges are pending.
On May 22, Sheriff’s Narcotics investigators were conducting surveillance on a suspected drug trafficker in the Center Point area when they observed a suspicious vehicle occupied by two men. Investigators coordinated with patrol units and stopped the vehicle. They discovered 6 pounds of marijuana, and 100 hydrocodone tablets. In this case the suspects identified as 23-year-old Chandler Logan Nichols and 24-year-old Gabriel Lopez Mathews both of Pinson were both arrested and charged with Trafficking Marijuana and Trafficking Hydrocodone.
On May 31, Narcotics investigators and patrol personnel went to an address in the Grayson Valley area to arrest 29-year-old Darius Brown for an outstanding warrant charging him with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. A search of the residence revealed 51 grams of marijuana, 44 vials of THC the active component of marijuana for use in vape devices. In addition to the outstanding warrant Brown was also charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On June 6, deputies received information about a possible stolen GMC truck. A check of the vehicle identification number revealed that it had been reported as stolen. A switched tag on the vehicle was registered to an address on Warrior Road in Birmingham. Deputies went to the address, but the truck was not there.
Information about the vehicle and the tag was forwarded to the Metro Area Crime Center. Investigators in the MACC developed a second address associated with the switched tag. This address was along Oprto-Madrid Boulevard. MACC investigators in an unmarked car went to this address and located the vehicle in the driveway. They maintained surveillance on the truck while marked patrol units drove to the house.
When patrol personnel arrived, they approached the truck and found it running with 34-year-old Erik Malone of Birmingham in the driver’s seat. He was taken into custody.
A subsequent search of the truck revealed 8 pounds of marijuana, 24 brownies containing marijuana, a handgun, a shotgun, 163 xanax tablets, 108 hydrocodone tablets, 13 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of methamphetamine, 86 oxycontin tablets, prescription cough syrup, and 42 suboxone strips.
Malone was arrested and taken to the Jefferson County Jail on charges of Trafficking Opioids, Trafficking Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of Cocaine, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Receiving Stolen Property, and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Federal charges will be sought for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.