DTF: Drug Deal Busted During Christmas Parade

Local cops and narcotics agents arrested five people Thursday, including four they say were in the middle of a drug deal during the Cartersville Christmas parade.

Sheriff Clark Millsap said in a release that Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducting a safety check at Groovers Landing and Tanyard Creek in Acworth, first arrested William Clay Hicks, who allegedly was in possession of about an ounce of methamphetamine, marijuana, packaging materials, a large sum of money believed to be proceeds of drug sales and a rifle. He was arrested and taken to jail.

Hicks, 44, of Rome, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and expired driver’s license.

Later in the evening during the Christmas parade, two K-9 deputies made traffic stops on two different vehicles at the same time and at the same location on Douglas Street at Johnson Street in Cartersville.

A police dog alerted on one of the vehicles, and agents allegedly found about 3 ounces of methamphetamine, 1 ounce of marijuana, digital scales, packaging material, a large sum of money believed to be proceeds from drug sales, and three loaded pistols.

The driver, Freddy Orengo Oliveras, and the passenger, Eric Eugene House, were arrested and transported to the jail. The other vehicle was following the first, and the driver, Jeovany Perez, and passenger, Alejandro Benitez, "were found to be part of an ongoing drug deal and were providing protection for the first vehicle" according to the press release. "Agents located in the second vehicle two pistols, one shotgun, a large sum of money believed to be proceeds from drug sales, and packaging material."

Perez and Benitez also were arrested and taken to jail.

Agents are following up on information gathered during the investigations and expect more arrests in the near future.

The four face the following charges:

• Jeovany Perez, 26, of Woodstock—Party to a Crime of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.

• Alejandro Benitez, 23, of Woodstock—Party to a Crime of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.

• Freddy Orengo Oliveras, 29, of Marietta—Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent within 1000ft of School Property and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.

• Eric Eugene House, 35, of 133 Douglas St., Cartersville—Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent within 1000ft of School Property, Possession of Methamphetamine by Inmate cross the Guardlines, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of Felony, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felony.