Chickasha Drug Bust Nets 15 Arrests

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

CHICKASHA, Oklahoma -- Thursday morning, more than 70 law enforcement officers executed six search warrants and arresting 15 individuals living in Chickasha.

The warrants stem from a three-month long investigation by the Chickasha Police Department and the Grady County District Attorney's Office. Together the two had been working to target people selling crack cocaine, meth and marijuana.

Chickasha Drug Bust

"The Chickasha Police Department is committed to pursuing investigations of drug dealers to help rid our community of the issues that are caused from illegal drugs and their associated use," said Major Elip Moore with the Chickasha Police Department.

Moore is convinced the arrests will lessen the availability of cocaine, meth and marijuana within Chickasha.

District Attorney Bret Burns praised the hard work of the Chickasha police.

"By working together and removing these drugs dealers from the streets, we have made this community a safer place," Burns said. "Almost all of these defendants have prior felony convictions and many of these defendants are charged with selling drugs in the presence of small children near our public schools."

Police said alleged dealers at one the homes was selling crack cocaine in front of their children and right across the street from Ashley Boyles' house.

"That shocks me. Being a parent you got to do what you got to do to make ends meet, but being a parent I wouldn't have brought it to where my kids are at," Ashley Boyles said.

And while residents in Chickasha appreciated the effort by law enforcement, those who have seen the drug problem first-hand questioned what kind of dent it will make.

"I don't know if it's gonna do any good or not. Generally they just move from one area to another," said Bill Edwards, a neighbor to one of the houses raided Thursday.

While police were excited they were able to make so many arrests, they said more are arrests are expected and soon.

During the raids, officers removed more than 10 minor children from six homes.