A six-month undercover criminal investigation by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and the Auburn Police Department culminated Monday morning with arrests of some of the suspects wanted for drug-related and other crimes.

Warrants totaling 100 are still being served, but 41 offenders were arrested in the large-scale roundup.

An estimated 50 law enforcement officials joined in the a sweep of warrant service concentrated in Winder but with cases also made in Auburn, Bethlehem and Braselton as well as in unincorporated areas of Barrow. Other officers joined in during the day to bring the number of lawmen in the effort close to 75.

There were 196 sales as a part of the undercover operation by Sheriff’s Office and Auburn Police personnel, conducted under the leadership of Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Caine Tate of the Narcotics Unit. Of the arrests, 51 were for drugs and other arrests were for domestic violence as well as 66 other charges including prostitution and child molestation, according to Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Matt Guthas, public information officer for the department.

Eighty persons have already been jailed on drug charges and other arrests are expected.

Law enforcement officers assembled before daylight at the Barrow County Performance Learning Center/Alternative School and met in the gym for a briefing by the Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit which covered standard operating procedures and specific information on particular offenders.

Veteran members of the Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit’s Tactical Team headed the team of officers from different departments assembled to serve the warrants. Packets contained the warrants, a photo of the suspect if available and advisories. Notes advised if the suspect was a threat to run or fight and special precautions were recommended.

Melanie Robertson, administrative secretary –property of the Special Operations division, worked two weeks on the paperwork for the operation. "She is great," said Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Faye Spaulding. "She is awesome."

The U.S. Marshals Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Winder Police Department, Auburn Police Department and Monroe Police Department canine assistance were part of the operation which got under way just after 6 a.m. The Statham Police Department was also involved in the operation’s preparation.

Eleven troopers of the Georgia State Patrol joined in the safety checkpoints with the Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Anthony Harris coordinated the checkpoints efforts which helped provide a check on the traffic attempting to leave the area.

On Tuesday morning, GBI Sara Thomas, one of the four GBI agents working on Monday, returned to assist with additional roundups.

The mobile command post first set up at Victor Lord Park where detention officers arrived with a transport van. By 6:50 a.m., two suspects were in the van.

An intense amount of organization is required to carry out an operation which had teams in two unmarked vehicles drive up to an address. Officers secured all exits and a knock on the door announced the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. The first stop for Team 3 did not find the suspect at home and the second address was a former resident of another suspect.

"We never know how these things will go," said Investigator Guthas, a 12-year law enforcement veteran.

Getting an early start is be design, said Guthas, who notes there is less likelihood of physical confrontation when suspects are just rousted out of bed.

"It’s safer for the bad guys, our guys and the public," said Guthas.

One suspect who resisted was controlled with use of a taser. At another address, the team forced open the door when those inside repeatedly refused to open the door. Another suspect attempting to elude capture was found in the attic of a home.

With the mobile command post relocated to the parking lot of Big H on King Street, Team 3 passed the post en route to another address. Sheriff Jud Smith had seen a man walking through the parking lot and invited him over since there was a warrant for his arrest. The man sat on the bumper of a truck and was soon joined by another suspect who was transported from the nearby location he was found.

Arriving at a Tuggle Street address, four vehicles were lined up as the handcuffed suspect was brought from inside the residence. Wearing boxers and high-top athletic shoes, an officer retrieved a pair of pants for the suspect.

Investigator Guthas said interagency cooperation is a vital part of the large operations like Monday’s warrant service sweep.

"Sheriff Smith is taking an aggressive stance on drug enforcement and on domestic violence," said Guthas. "He wants us to be proactive."

The arrests were still being made Tuesday, and some of those wanted were incarcerated in other detention centers. The names of those taken into custody will appear in the Wednesday print edition of the Barrow County News.

This action is not the end, nor even a break, in the Sheriff’s Office fight against narcotics in Barrow County, said Guthas. Deputies from the Narcotics unit are currently investigating cases on approximately 25 more drug dealers in Barrow County.

Sheriff Smith said, "The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office is committed to vigorously combating illegal drugs in Barrow County. As long as there is one drug dealer who sells poison on the street, the Sheriff’s Office will consider him a threat against the safety and health of Barrow County citizens."

Sheriff Smith complimented the cooperation and coordination of all the agencies which made the operation a success.