Deputies awaken, arrest drug suspects during 'Operation: 100 Proof'

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By Dave Faherty

NEWTON, N.C. — Deputies in Catawba County awoke and arrested 100 people early Wednesday during a surprise drug bust operation, officials said.

Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty was with deputies before dawn as they made several arrests during “Operation: 100 Proof” and found even more drugs.

At the detention center, deputies could be seen throughout the morning bringing suspect after suspect in for booking before heading back out to serve more warrants.

The Catawba County Sheriff's Office said the arrests come after narcotics investigators made buys across the county, involving everything from prescription pills and meth to marijuana.

Within an hour of tagging along with authorities, Faherty witnessed several arrests in Newton, Maiden and Hickory. During one of the arrests, deputies said they woke a man up and found meth inside a bottle of pills he had on him.

Channel 9 found out that the 100 people involved in the sweep were wanted on over 350 felony drug charges in Catawba County.

Sheriff deputies and narcotics officers went to a home in Newton looking for James Bartlett.

When he came to the door, he said he wasn't sure why the officers were there.

“What? No. No idea? No idea at all," Bartlett said.

Deputies said Bartlett is accused of selling pain pills.

Deputies said there are more arrests coming.

"It's not a question of if you'll get caught, it's when you'll get caught. So, if you haven't been caught yet, you better stop." Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid said.

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