OCILLA — A four-month investigation targeting middle-to-high level drug dealers resulted in the arrests of 10 Irwin County men in Irwin and Ben Hill counties Monday morning. More arrests are expected.

Officials said “numerous and repeated” complaints from the public led to many of the arrests. Investigators with the South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) and officers with the Ocilla Police Department, the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections Parole Division served the warrants and made the Monday arrests.

“These cases were started primarily due to repeated complaints made by citizens over a period of time,” said Inv. John David Anderson of the SCDTF.

Anderson said the cooperation from local citizens who came forward with information is appreciated.

“The public possesses the power to take back control over their communities and neighborhoods simply by getting involved and keeping their eyes open,” Anderson said. “This operation is a perfect example of what happens when the community gets involved.”

Ocilla Police Chief Billy Hancock serves as SCDTF Control Board Chairman. He said Monday the he is pleased with the performance of the task force “and all the other law enforcement officers who participated.”

“Being able to make these larger cases is one of the primary reasons why we wanted to join the task force in 2002,” Hancock said.

Irwin County is the host agency for the task force. Sheriff Donnie Youghn serves as the SCDTF Control Board Vice-Chairman.

“Drug investigations depend on tips from the public,” Youghn said. “I am glad that the people in Irwin County have been cooperating with the task force.”

Arrested Monday were Demetrius Battle, 20, on two counts of sale of crack cocaine; Jibri Lamar Battle, 24, on seven counts of sale of crack cocaine; Daron Dunlap, 39, five counts of sale of crack cocaine; Bernard Herring, 29, on one count of sale of crack cocaine; Leo McTear Jr., 22, on one count of sale of marijuana; Christopher Moore, 38, on eight counts of sale of crack cocaine; Leonard Leon Richardson Jr., 23, on one county of sale of crack cocaine; Steve Thomas, 37, on one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of possession of tools for the commission of a crime; Corey Jermaine Wilcox, 25, on one count of sale of crack cocaine; and Earl Wilcox Jr., 21, on three counts of sale of crack cocaine.

Battle was convicted on a possession of cocaine charge in Irwin County and sentenced to serve seven years beginning in April of 2001. He was paroled on Aug. 19, 2002. Herring has been convicted in Ben Hill and Irwin counties on two possession of cocaine, one sale and distribution of cocaine and one sale and distribution of marijuana charges dating back to 1994. He was paroled in Sept. 19, 2003 on a 2001 conviction of possession of cocaine.

Anyone who has information of a criminal or drug-related nature is encouraged to call the SCDTF at 229-424-0000. All callers can remain anonymous.