Numerous arrests on drug charges by Polk County Drug Task Force

Cedartown, Ga. — July 29, 2015:  Several key players involved in illegal drug activity in Polk County were placed behind bars today, according to local law enforcement officials. The arrest of 22 individuals — all charged with drug-related offenses — has made a considerable dent in the county’s ongoing effort to crackdown on illegal drug use and distribution.

“There’s no doubt that what we were able to do today will be felt by the dealers still out there on the street,” said Polk County Drug Task Force Commander Jonathan Blackmon. “We locked up some major players today.”

Blackmon stated that today’s arrests are the result of a five-month long investigation headed up by the Office of the District Attorney, Jack Browning, and the Polk County Drug Task Force. Uniform divisions from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedartown Police Department (CPD), the Polk County Police Department (PCPD) and the K-9 units from both the CPD and the PCPD were integral in carrying out the operation. “With the previous busts we’ve conducted earlier this year, it just proves that we’re all working together and we’re all working very hard to get the bad guys off the streets,” he said.

According to Cedartown Police Chief and Drug Task Force Spokesperson Jamie Newsome, individuals arrested include:

  • Michael Hackney, 124 Morton Springs Road, Cedartown
  • Ulises Borja, 566 Pine Street, Cedartown
  • Justin Lee Cunningham, 9095 County Road 33, Centre, Ala.
  • Danny Dorris,124 Morton Springs Road, Cedartown
  • Shaunda Star Easterwood, 1228 Maple Avenue, Rome
  • Sara Hackney, 126 Morton Springs Road, Cedartown
  • Jada Howard, 73 Milco Place SE, Rome
  • Jennifer Jenkins, 3428 Horseleg Creek Road, Rome
  • Casey Kerr, 3088 Buttermilk Road, Cave Spring
  • Barbara Morris, 55 County Road 555, Centre, Ala,
  • Fernando Hernandez Pizano, 508 Lynton Drive, Cedartown
  • Heather Rock, Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Carmen Patricia Rodriguez, 566 Pine Street, Cedartown
  • Daramis Stephenson, 2167 Kingston Hwy NE, Rome
  • Jeffery Wayne Turner, 4738 Blacks Bluff Road, Rome
  • John Michael Turner, 4738 Blacks Bluff Road, Rome
  • Alejandro Pineda-Ortiz, 710 Ladue Street, Cedartown
  • Amanda Dempsey, 124 Morton Springs Road, Cedartown
  • Jennifer Ploof, 104 Apt. A, Tyler Street, Rome
  • Jana Lynn Dean, Rome
  • Meagan Gibson, 710 Ladue Street, Cedartown
  • Brian Sanchez, 710 Ladue Street, Cedartown

Newsome said that Hackney, Borja and Pineda-Ortiz were charged with trafficking meth and conspiracy to traffick meth. All others arrested were charged with conspiracy to traffick or conspiracy to possess methamphetamine.

Blackmon confirmed that several pieces of property were seized, as well as five vehicles, $13,000 in cash and more than one pound of methamphetamine. Several bank accounts were also frozen, he stated.

Several other agencies also assisted in today’s operation. They include the GBI West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Offices (R.D.E.O); Cartersville/Bartow County Drug Task Force; Rome/Floyd Metro Drug Task Force; FBI/Northwest Georgia Criminal Enterprise Task Force, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Chattooga Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Marshals.