Drug Bust Leads To Search

Dan Ricks, an investigator with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, escaped serious harm last Thursday after being held at gunpoint by two suspected drug dealers.

A bulletin to “be on the lookout for” has been issued for Lamont Thurman of 726 Spruce Street, Monticello and Amanda Valenzuela of Monticello.

Because of the circumstances surrounding this incident, Mr. Thurman is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Thurman is urged to contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 706-468-4911 or provide anonymous information to the Sheriff’s Office through the TIPS line at 706-468-JCSO.
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The incident occurred about 9:30 p.m., when officers were called to 433 North Warren Street in Monticello for back-up in an undercover drug operation.

As more law enforcement arrived, several suspects fled the home, jumping out the rear window of the house, according to the announcement form the Sheriff’s office. Three suspects were removed from the house and an additional suspect was apprehended in a wooded area behind the house.
When the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit arrived, an additional suspect was located in a heavily wooded area, hiding underneath a collapsed structure.

The suspects arrested were Micah Antwan Stoll of Covington, Charlie Goolsby of Monticello, James Roger Becknell of Monticello and Laroderick Carter of Decatur.

A search warrant was issued, and in the search of the residence, officers found 22 packages of suspected marijuana, an amount of suspected powdered cocaine packaged for distribution, a small semi-automatic pistol and large amount of materials used in the distribution of drugs.

The Sheriffs Office was assisted by officers of the Monticello Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and the Department of Natural Resources.