A total of 29 were arrested in the drug round up Thursday, August 21, stemming from an investigation that began several months ago.

Thirty two indictments were reviewed in a special session of the Grand Jury Thursday, August 14, that resulted in the arrest of the individuals.

Several deputies from the Macon County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Vic Donoho, Sgt. William Avera, Trooper Shannon Brinkley and his K-9 dog, Trooper Terry Seay, Trooper Gerald Carter, Trooper Edwin Crouch, Trooper Tracy Donoho, and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer Michael Loftis with his K-9 dog, several members from the TBI, and agents from the High Intensity Drug Traffic Association participated in the roundup.

According to Macon County Sheriff's Chief Deputy, Danny Fisher, these arrests stemmed from an investigation that has been ongoing since January of 2003. "We hope to make Macon County a safer place for everyone," Fisher said. "The scheduled substances that these people were arrested for included prescription narcotics, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. This is only the beginning of many more to come." Reportedly eight to ten more arrests will stem from this investigation.

Two additional search warrant were issued that night and action on those are also pending.

Several of those arrested made bond; however, several remain at the Macon County Justice Center without bond.

Macon County Detective Jimmy Hardin reported that the arrests went better than expected, with no one resisting arrest. Several vehicles were also seized during the arrest.

Chief Deputy Fisher would like to thank several local businesses, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Subway, that provided meals for the officers who worked the investigation.

A full report of those arrested can be found on page A8 under Sell of Scheduled Substances in this week's edition of the Macon County Times.