Officials arrest 18, seize drugs & weapons in Meck County

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Eighteen men in Mecklenburg County are accused of violating their probation or parole after a massive multi-agency operation known as Operation Big Game.

North Carolina has labeled the men either violent felons or gang members and said they weren’t in compliance with the terms of their probation or parole.

Officials say the compliance checks led investigators to 15 weapons including two that were stolen, drugs including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, and crystal methamphetamine, as well as $2600 cash and a stolen motorcycle.

The weapons, drugs, money and other items were seized throughout communities in Mecklenburg County, where people like Michael and Dianne Kabala live.

“There are so many shootings and violence that I think something needs to be done,” said Michael Kabala. “I’m glad to see they’re taking positive action.”

The compliance checks some just weeks after CMPD Chief Kerr Putney announced overall crime was up 10 percent in 2015.  It was then Putney named drugs and guns as big factors in the spike in shootings and home invasion robberies.

The Department of Public Safety, which led Operation Big Game stressed drugs and guns are also often linked to gangs.

"When we can put a crimp in that activity and put some of those folks behind bars and make sure those who are being supervised on probation or parole are following the terms of their supervision that makes for a safer community for everyone,” said Keith Acree, a spokesperson with NC DPS.

Those arrested and charged were:

• Omontie Rowe, charged with possession of firearm by a felon
• Marquise Leak, charged with possession of firearm by a felon
• Rishon Cedeno, charged with simple possession of Schedule IV substance, felony probation violation
• Kenneth Grier, charged with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in MDMA/Ecstasy, PWISD cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, maintaining a dwelling, possession of drug paraphernalia
• Herbert Jennings, charged with felony parole violation, felony possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia
• Franklin Johnson, charged with felony parole violation, felony possession of Schedule I substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana
• Azure Khoury, charged with possession of firearm by a felon, felony possession of marijuana
• Davante Lewis, charged with possession of firearm by a felon, felony possession of marijuana
• Thomas McCusker, charged with felony possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, felony parole violation.
• Angelo Mejia, charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of firearm by a felon, PWISD cocaine, maintaining a dwelling keep/sell narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen firearm, felony probation violation
• Schanzes Jackson, charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon
• Bobby Abraham, charged with possession of firearm by a felon, possession of stolen firearm
• David Reid, charged with discharge of a weapon in city limits
• Daronjonic  Andrews, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia
• Drakkar Pittman, charged with possession of marijuana
• Kenneth Grier Jr., charged with possession of marijuana
• Sammie Davis, charged with possession of marijuana
• Irineous Sturdivant, charged with felony possession of marijuana and felony probation violation

WSOC