Special to the Herald

EFFINGHAM COUNTY -- A months-long joint investigation between the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Drug Suppression Unit, culminated with multiple search warrants and several arrests.   

This investigation spanned several months and on Oct. 25, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and the ECSO Drug Suppression Unit conducted a search warrant off Greenbriar Trail in Ellabell. During the search warrant, items that were seized included: trafficking amounts of Fentanyl, tools used to manufacture methamphetamine, and a stolen firearm.

On Oct. 29, another search warrant was conducted at a house on Homestead Drive. During this search warrant, items that were seized included: trafficking amounts of Fentanyl, prescription medications, and materials associated with the distribution of controlled substances.

“With the number of overdoses steady on the rise, both the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, especially our Drug Suppression Unit, will make the battle to eradicate drugs, drugs sales, and activity in our community a high priority. The time and effort put into this investigation by the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and our Drug Suppression Unit shows that if you’re doing and selling drugs in and around our community, we will work together and find you,” says Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.

As a result of this investigation, the following people were arrested: 

• Richard Downs, 36, of Ellabell, was arrested and charged possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and trafficking fentanyl.
• Austin Griffin, 28, of Ellabell, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (Schedule II) and possession of tools for commission of a crime.
• Cody Griffin, 30, of Ellabell, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (Schedule II), possession of tools for commission of a crime and trafficking fentanyl.
• Courtney Huggins, 31, of Ellabell, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Kenneth Lane, 32, of Pembroke, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of tools for commission a crime.
• Kenneth Rose, 25, of Ellabell, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (Schedule II) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Cheyenne Tillman, 21, of Ellabell, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (Schedule II), possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation.