(UPDATE) – At approximately 12:30 Tuesday, a seventh person was arrested in connection with this case.
Anthony Eady, 29, of Valdosta, was arrested by the Valdosta Police Department after an arrest warrant was signed Tuesday morning for misdemeanor obstruction, according to reports.
“Eady was identified by officers and by video as one of many individuals who charged at officers during a narcotics investigation,” said Lt. Adam Bembry. “Eady is being held at the Lowndes County Jail. This case is still active, and additional persons involved in the incident once identified, will be charged as well.”
VALDOSTA – Six people were arrested Monday after a crowd attempted to stop officers from making a drug arrest outside a Valdosta housing project.
At approximately 1 p.m., a Valdosta Police Department officer was reportedly observing foot traffic in the Ora Lee West Housing Complex using the department’s city-wide camera system.
“The officer observed a drug transaction and made contact with one subject who was found to be in possession of marijuana,” said VPD Lt. Adam Bembry.
That individual, Willie Roberts, 25, was taken into custody. The officer reportedly began to investigate the vehicle where the transaction originated.
“A police K-9 alerted that illegal narcotics were present in the vehicle, and the officer observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the vehicle,” Bembry said. “An unidentified African American female then approached the officer claiming ownership of the vehicle, stating to the officer that he was not allowed to go into her vehicle. When the officer attempted to explain what he discovered to the female, she grabbed the door to the vehicle and began to attempt to close it.”
According to police reports, a man later identified as DeAnthony Motes, 27, then ran toward the officer and entered the vehicle on the opposite side.
“The officer and his back up unit began giving verbal commands for Motes to stop and not to enter the vehicle. Motes ignored the commands and grabbed a large sized bag of marijuana out of the vehicle and threw it under the vehicle, out of the reach of officers,” Bembry said. “Another unknown person grabbed the marijuana and fled the scene. While officers began taking Motes into custody, Motes became physically combative and resisted arrest.”
A crowd of between 15 to 20 people then surrounded the two officers in an attempt to interfere with the arrest of Motes. Approximately eight to 10 individuals then began attempting to assist Motes by trying to push one of the car doors shut to prevent the officers from taking Motes into custody, Bembry said.
“Multiple verbal commands were given by the officers to the crowd to get back away from them and additional officers responded,” Bembry said. “An additional four subjects were taken into custody for obstruction of officers and the investigation is still active as the department is attempting to identify the remaining individuals who obstructed officers.”
The following subjects were arrested for the charges listed and were transported to the Lowndes County Jail:
- DeAnthony Motes, 27: Possession of Marijuana w/Intent to Distribute (FELONY), Possession of Tools for the Commission of Crime (FELONY), Possession of Marijuana w/Intent to Distribute within 1000 feet of a Housing Project (FELONY, Tampering with Evidence (FELONY), Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
- Willie Roberts, 25: Possession of Marijuana (Misdemeanor)
- Devon Adams, 22: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
- Porsche Scott, 27: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
- Michael Green, 26: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
- Kenyatta Johnson, 24: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
Bembry said the entire incident was recorded on video, including the officers’ body-worn cameras.
A YouTube video recorded by a bystander captured one of the obstruction arrests and has been circulating social media sites since yesterday afternoon.
While he declined to comment on the social media video, VPD Chief Brian Childress said police video footage showing the full incident will be made available during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“The police department has received numerous complaints over the past several months of illegal drug sales in the area of Troup Street and East Jane Street. This incident confirms information which the department received. We will not tolerate this nonsense going on in our city and everyone who interfered with the officers will be arrested,” said Childress.
Valdosta Today will update this story with additional information as it becomes available.
