Eight arrests made in Lee County drug bust

LEESBURG — A drug investigation that had been ongoing for several months in Lee County has come to a close with the arrests of eight suspects.

Lee County Sheriff Reggie Rachals said Friday the arrests have been made over the course of the last few weeks, and that the bust took roughly $7,000 worth of drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, oxycodone and cocaine off the streets.

The narcotics unit’s investigation began early last year after reports came in that drug sales were taking place during the day at houses and street corners in Lee County, he said.

The individuals arrested were Amanda Parker, Jessie Parrish, Daniel Knight, Carlos Waters, Thomas Ross, Rikeem Sutton, Nicholas French and William Buck. There are various charges involved, including possession of a controlled substance, sale of a controlled substance, possession of tools for commission of a crime, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, sale of cocaine, sale of marijuana, possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, sale of a Schedule II controlled substance, probation violation, criminal attempt to distribute roxycodone and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute.

A few of the suspects have since been released on bond. The most recent arrest took place Thursday, officials said.

Agents began following leads in Smithville, which also took the investigation into Leesburg, Rachals said. About eight ounces of marijuana ended up being recovered during the course of the arrests. The sheriff said that, as far as investigators know at this point, this is not connected to any other drug operations.

“I am constantly worried (about drug sales in the area),” Rachals said. “If people out there are seeing it, let us know.”