VALDOSTA – A tip provided by residents led to the arrest of a Valdosta man on drug charges over the weekend.

On Saturday, investigators with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division executed a search warrant at a residence in the 800 block of South Fry Street. The execution of the warrant was the culmination of an investigation sparked by information provided to LCSO by Valdosta residents.

During the search of the apartment, deputies reportedly found “a quantity of cocaine,marijuana and other items commonly used for the distribution of drugs,” said LCSO Capt. Stryde Jones.

Willie James Smith, Jr., 36, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine within 1000 feet of a public housing area, possession of tools for the commission of a crime and sale of cocaine, according to LCSO incident reports.

Smith was taken to the Lowndes County Jail and appeared in the Lowndes County Magistrate Court on Monday. Smith remains jail.

“We say it a lot, but citizen information is what normally begins and pushes investigative cases,” said Sheriff Chris Prine. “This case is a great example of the cooperation it takes between citizens and law enforcement to make our community a safer place.”

Anyone wanting to provide information on this or any case can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (229) 671-2950; or anonymous tips can be provided at (229) 671-2985 or on-line at www.lowndessheriff.com. The Sheriff’s Office is also accessible on Facebook.