2 accused drug dealers among 21 arrests made so far by Philadelphia Police

Two accused drug dealers are among 21 arrests made so far by the Philadelphia Police Department in conjunction with an ongoing narcotics investigation over the last several months, Police Chief Eric Lyons said.

The meth, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana arrests range from sale of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Lyons said most of the conspiracy charges are narcotics-related and led to deaths.

“Most of the narcotics targeted in this operation have caused many deaths and led to many other crimes, not only in the city of Philadelphia but also the county as a whole,” Lyons said.

Lyons said notable arrests include that of Crystal Lofton when an officer served a warrant at a residence on Knight Street in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Lofton was charged with a warrant for the sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.

Officers searched the residence and found methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia, Lyons said.

Another is the arrest of Shaquille Shumaker, a Louisville man, who was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Lyons said Shumaker was arrested during a traffic stop officers made on Cora Street in town Friday morning at 10 a.m. Officers recovered a package from the vehicle that Shumaker was driving containing two pounds of marijuana.  

Shumaker was taken into custody and transported to the Winston County Jail. Lyons said the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in this investigation.

“More arrests are expected as this investigation continues,” Lyons said.

The remaining 19 arrests involved in this investigation are as follows, according to Lyons:

• Tyler Demond Buckley was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Jonathan Jackson was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Terry Brooks Chunn was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Bradley Anthony was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Walter Norris was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Shirley Moore was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Michael Neese was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Madison Crocker was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• James Jenkins was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Patrick Stokes was arrested and charged with sale of a controlled substance.
• Rhoda Davis was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
• William Bell was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
• William Crell was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
• John Scott Carter II was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
• Brittany Williamson was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to sell narcotics.
• Latesha C. Clayton was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to sell narcotics.
• Rodney Eric Copeland was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Monica J. Edwards was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Evie Pullin was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lyons said all suspects except for Shumaker were arrested on either Tuesday or Thursday morning.

“The addition of our K9 has assisted greatly in many of the initial investigations which have led to many of these arrests,” Lyons said.

Met, a Belgian Malinois police dog, joined PPD last fall after he and his handler, Officer Justin Wyatt, completed roughly five weeks of training.

“We have encountered many cases and narcotics that contain fentanyl which has been fatal in some investigations that we have faced,” Lyons said. “For drug users to purchase what they think is methamphetamine or pain killers could possibly be Fentanyl and are unaware of what they are actually purchasing and consuming.”