by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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Commander Lynn Panter, left, and Det. Stacy Nicholson, right, display drugs, drug paraphernalia, guns, and cash confiscated during the arrests of six people last Thursday and Friday, March 11 and 12.
Contributed photo
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A Gilmer County woman living in the southwestern part of the county frightened off a home invader with a gunshot early Sunday morning, March 14. The woman was not injured during the incident.
According to a source close to the investigation, the sound of a vehicle in the woman’s yard awakened her. A person knocked on her door asking to use the phone.
When the woman said she would place the call for the person outside, the perpetrator then proceeded to beat on the door before pushing it open. The victim then shot at the perpetrator, who left the scene.
The incident is being investigated by agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and detectives from the the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Dept.
In other news, Gilmer County detectives and agents from the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force arrested six people on drug charges and recovered some stolen merchandise.
Chief Det. Stacy Nicholson told the Times-Courier detectives R.T. Henry and Chris Goulart performed a consent search at the home of Deborah Lou Bays on Macedonia Road on Thursday, March 11. During the search, a highly purified form of methamphetamine, known as “ice”, was discovered.
Officers then obtained another search warrant and executed it at the Bays residence, finding more ice and suspected stolen power tools. Bays, 43, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Evidence was also found that lead officers to obtain two more search warrants to residences on Clay Top Road and Hagin Circle.
Early Friday morning, March 12, three arrests were made at the Clay Top Road address, where methamphetamine, marijuana, and other drugs were found. Detectives arrested Jerry Lee Cantrell, 50, and charged him with two counts of probation violation, one count of possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, one count of possession of marijuana, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Larry Joe Cantrell, 52, was arrested and charged with one count each of possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Terry Christopher Cantrell, 32, was arrested and charged with one count of probation violation, one count of possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, one count of possession of marijuana, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
A total of $600 in cash was also confiscated.
During the search at the Clay Top Road address, detectives and drug agents were busy executing a search warrant at a Hagin Circle address where Edward Brent Alred, 30, was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana.
Also arrested was Brooke Denise Baggett, 20, who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
A total of $2,400 cash was seized at the house, along with a “truck load” of suspected stolen tools and a four-wheeler, which has been identified as being stolen from another location in Gilmer County.
Nicholson said he appreciated Commander Lynn Panter of the drug task force, and Det. Lane Bennett of the Ellijay Police Dept., for their assistance in the case.