Search warrant executed in Wilburn results in 3.7 pounds of meth seized, one arrest

During the month of August 2021 Investigators with the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office and Heber Springs Police Department received information about an individual identified as Jeffery Eldridge distributing large amounts of Crystal Methamphetamine from his residence located in Wilburn Arkansas. A joint investigation was opened, and after approximately two months of undercover investigation a Search Warrant was acquired for the residence.

On Thursday October 28th, 2021 at approximately 7:30 PM the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office and Heber Springs Police Department, along with agents from the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force executed the Warrant at the Eldridge residence. Investigators seized approximately 3.7 lbs. of Crystal Methamphetamine carrying an approximate street value of $75,000.00. Investigators also seized $2,195.00 US currency which is suspected to be drug proceeds. Investigators also located a firearm and numerous items of drug paraphernalia associated with the sale and distribution of Methamphetamine. Jeffery Edward Eldridge (58, of Wilburn) was subsequently arrested and transported to the Cleburne County Detention Center and booked on a $175,000.00 bond.

Eldridge's charges include:

• TRAFFICKING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE METHAMPHETAMINE, A CLASS "Y" FELONY

 

• SIMULTANEOUS POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND FIREARMS, A CLASS "Y" FELONY

 

• POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY CERTAIN PERSONS, A CLASS "D" FELONY

 

• POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, A CLASS "B" FELONY

 

• MAINTAINING A DRUG PREMISES, A CLASS "C" FELONY

 

• UNLAWFUL USE OF A COMMUNICATION DEVICE, A CLASS "C" FELONY

 

• HABITUAL OFFENDER HAVING BEEN CONVICTED OF FOUR (4) OR MORE FELONIES

 

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court

 

 

 

 

Search warrant executed in Heber Springs results in meth seizure, arrest

On Thursday November 4th, in an unrelated investigation, the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office and Heber Springs Police Department, along with agents from the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at a residence in Heber Springs. Michael Lee Cope (54, of Heber Springs) was taken into custody subsequent to the warrant where Investigators found him to be in possession of approximately 22 Grams of Crystal Methamphetamine that was a Fentanyl based compound along with various items of drug paraphernalia associated to distribution. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid and growing epidemic nationwide that has begun to find its way into our community. Fentanyl is deadly in just small amounts and 50 to 100 times more potent that Morphine and a 100 times more potent that Heroine. Being a powerful synthetic opioid, just one gram has to the potential to kill 300 to 500 people. Michael Lee Cope was placed on a $50,000.00 bond and charged with the following:

• POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II CONTROLELD SUBSTANCE WITH THE PURPOSE TO DELIVER TEN GRAMS OR MORE BUT LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED GRAMS, A CLASS "A" FELONY

 

• MAINTAINING DRUG PREMISES, A CLASS "C" FELONY

 

• POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, A CLASS "B" FELONY

 

• UNLAWFUL USE OF A COMMUNICATION DEVICE, A CLASS "C" FELONY

 

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

 

The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office and Heber Springs Police Department work closely together on a daily basis and are dedicated in the ongoing fight against Methamphetamine. Our two agencies will continue to work closely together to fight Methamphetamine dealers and make our community a safer place to live.

 

-Sheriff Chris Brown

Eldridge, Jeffery

Eldridge warrant

Eldridge warrant

Cope, Michael