Undercover agents buy crack, meth: Eight arrested in McMinnville sting
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?Crack cocaine is still, and has pretty well been in recent years, the main drug we?re finding in our operations,? said McMinnville Police narcotics investigator Tony Jenkins, noting while meth seems to grab the headlines it is crack cocaine which has stayed consistent for years here.
His comments came as arraignment was held for seven of the eight people indicted recently as part of the city?s undercover drug-buying operation, which targeted felony sales of illegal narcotics. The suspects, for the most part, were caught on tape making the transactions. They will face plea or assignment of trial dates July 26.
Included in those caught in the operation was Samantha Salamone, charged with sale of meth for allegedly selling drugs to an operative. She was in the headlines several years ago after she gained an indictment against District Attorney General Dale Potter after he allegedly said he would re-open her child support collection case if her mother would write a favorable letter to the editor of the Standard. Her mother had formerly written a critical letter about his office. Potter was acquitted of the charges.
In addition to Salamone, a pair of cousins, Shantay Pleasant and Kayla Pleasant, were both indicted on charges of sale of Hydrocodone, a prescription pain killer. Kayla Pleasant is also charged for sale of crack cocaine.
Others charged with selling crack cocaine include Chris Cummings, who faces three counts of selling crack to an operative. Jonathan Childs is also charged with sale of cocaine, as is Tinsley Fisk.
Meanwhile, Ronnie Keaton is charged with sale of marijuana while Joanie Bates is charged with prescription fraud. Her charges come for allegedly forging a prescription by doubling the dosage on the written prescription.
More arrests are expected in connection with the recent operation.