Published: November 20, 2009 09:01 am      

Whitley man arrested for drugs

Officers believe he was operating sizeable drug-dealing business from his home

By Adam S. Sulfridge / Staff Writer

Williamsburg police arrested 47-year-old Benny Burt Randle Wednesday evening for drug trafficking, and from the variety of prescription drugs recovered from his home, officers believe Randle was operating a sizeable drug-dealing business.

Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said, “Det. Freeman and K9 Officer Brandon Prewitt initiated this investigation after receiving numerous complaints from locals about a lot of suspicious traffic in the area. Through the investigation, our officers were able to conduct a controlled buy using an undercover cooperating source.”

According to paperwork filed by Det. Freeman, a cooperating source purchased an OxyContin pill from Randle while wired with an audio recording device. Based on that purchase, officers later obtained a warrant to search Randle’s residence at 1040 Hamblin Hollow Road, which is located in the Gatliff community outside the Williamsburg city limits.

“Det. Freeman determined that Mr. Randle appeared to be a pretty busy drug dealer,” Officer Jackson stated. In the residence, police seized over a thousand dollars in cash along with 19-and-a-half green pills believed to be 80 miligram OxyContin, along with 45 other unnamed pills.

Officer Jackson added, “Apparently, a person could come off the street and get their drug of choice from him… there was a couple other individuals at his residence who were arrested at the scene.”

Police also arrested 31-year-old Todd D. Jackson and 33-year-old Kimberly L. Jackson.

“Todd Jackson was inside the residence when police arrived, and she was in their vehicle. A search of their vehicle revealed a small pill bottle, a snorting straw, a piece of what appeared to be an 80 milligram OxyContin, and another piece of what appeared to be a Suboxone,” Officer Jackson explained.

Both were charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“Mr. Jackson made a statement to officers that he did have a problem. Said he needed help with the problem.”

Randle was charged with first-degree, first-offense trafficking a controlled substance and receiving stolen property, both of which are felonies. According to police, a stolen Hi-Point 9mm pistol was found at Randle’s home.

“It was stolen out of another state. He told us he purchased it off somebody, but it’s still receiving stolen property,” Officer Jackson noted.

Several other firearms, steel knuckles, a digital weight scale, police radio scanner, and a pill crusher were also seized by police at Randle’s residence.

“Fortunately, we were able to go in quickly without anyone being injured. We accomplished our goal by putting another drug dealer behind bars, and we thank the public for their help in this arrest,” Officer Jackson said.