Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jan 2003
Source: Greenwood Commonwealth (MS)
Copyright: 2003 Greenwood Commonwealth
Contact:  http://www.gwcommonwealth.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1541

NEW NARCOTICS BUREAU HEAD PARTICIPATES IN DELTA SWEEP

Bust Resulted In Number Of Arrests, Closure Of Nightclub

GREENVILLE (AP) - The new head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics 
participated in multi-agency sweep in the Delta over the weekend that 
resulted in a number of arrests and the closure of a nightclub.

Frank Melton said his agency, the National Guard, the state Attorney 
General's Office, the Washington County Sheriff's Department and the 
Greenville Police Department participated in the operation on Friday night.

The sweep resulted in 25 arrests by Greenville police and the sheriff's 
office, from felony drug charges to misdemeanor charges, officials said. 
Police in other Delta towns also made arrests, officials said.

Last week, Melton suited up with some of his officers to search for drugs 
around downtown Jackson and make traffic stops near the Capitol.

Supporters have looked at Melton's approach to the job as being hands-on. 
Critics have questioned his tactics and his qualifications, pointing out 
that Melton has no law enforcement experience.

Melton said a club in Leland was closed down because teenagers were inside 
and the business did not have a license to sell alcoholic beverages.

Melton said he did not know the name of the club.

"I can't even remember the name of it because it was so disgusting," Melton 
said.

Melton said local law enforcement officials asked for his agency's assistance.

Washington County Sheriff's Department Capt. David Sessums said 
investigators teamed up after receiving several telephone calls from 
concerned residents that they were scared to walk outside, to go anywhere 
or to let their children play outdoors.

"We are going to target street-level drug-dealing and crime to let the 
hardworking taxpayers know that the streets belong to them and not the 
criminals," Sessums said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom