HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. — More than three dozen people were sent to jail in Heber Springs on Monday, but police officers are still searching for more.
Cleburne County Sheriff Chris Brown announced that 37 people were arrested during a countywide law enforcement operation targeting suspected meth dealers.
“It is the largest roundup conducted by the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office,” he stated, “and it reaffirms our commitment to the citizens of Cleburne County in fighting this drug epidemic that has plagued not only our county but this state and this nation.”
Operation Lake Ice began two years ago, and the first roundup led to 21 arrests. Brown said 40 suspects were included in the second phase of the operation, and three search warrants were carried out, as well.
“For the past 18 months,” Brown said, “Cleburne County detectives, along with agents of the 16th (Judicial District) Drug Task Force, had been working hard investigating and putting cases together, trying to put drug dealers behind bars and keep our community as drug-free as possible.”
Approximately 75 officers and detectives from 20 agencies in northern Arkansas participated in the roundup. Brown said they arrested suspected drug dealers all over the county.
“Probably one of the most amazing things about cases like this,” he explained, “are that there are people from all walks of life, all ages, all races, all occupations that get caught up selling drugs. And whatever the reason is that they get started into it, those may vary, but the fact is that there’s not one specific group, one specific area that is plagued less, maybe, than some other areas we see. And even with the arrests today, arrested from all over the county, from nice neighborhoods, from, maybe, neighborhoods that aren’t quite as nice, and just people from all walks of life.”
Eric Hance, the prosecutor for the 16th Judicial District, which includes Cleburne County, said much of the information about suspects came from smaller agencies before being relayed to the detectives overseeing the operation.
“That’s really what it’s all about, is getting that information that these people need to find out who they need to be looking for,” Hance said.
“I hope this will encourage other counties to see what has happened here, and that you really can work with each other and come up with a really, really good result.”
Meth is not a new problem in northern Arkansas. Brown referenced a 2017 HBO documentary about it that focused heavily on Van Buren County.
Detective Brandon Long, who led Operation Lake Ice, said many of the 40 suspects have been arrested before for drug crimes and some have long criminal records. But he said he remained hopeful that Monday’s sweep would make a difference.
“We have to target the dealers and we have to do something. We have to combat the problem. This is the only way that we know to do it,” he stated. “Hopefully, this makes an impact and people will see what we’re doing. And we would like to think that that would stop and prevent a lot of that in the future.”
“And if you are dealing drugs in Cleburne County, I have a message for you, too,” Brown added. “Stop dealing, leave Cleburne County, or prepare to go to jail because we’re coming for you.”
Brown and Hance praised Long and the many detectives and narcotics officers who laid the groundwork for Monday’s sweep over the last year and a half.
“It is their hard work, their sacrifices, and their determination that makes operations like this one a success,” Brown said, “and it is an absolute privilege to work alongside them each and every day.”
“Law enforcement is hard work in general,” Hance added, “but I don’t think anybody appreciates how difficult the narcotics work is. It’s horrible hours, long hours. You’re working weekends and nights, many times in places that most of us would be afraid to drive by.”
Officers did not find three of the 40 suspects on their list of suspects. They are now listed in the “most wanted” section on the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office’s website.