Raid nets historic cache of drugs, three arrests | Bigstory

Local drug agents raided a suspected heroin processing facility inside a Woodstock house on Thursday, seizing the biggest cache of the drug in the county’s history, authorities said Friday morning.

According to Cherokee Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker:

Agents with the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad discovered a “heroin processing facility” at a house off Trickum Road in Woodstock on Thursday afternoon, seizing the largest amount of heroin at one time in Cherokee County history.

Agents were preparing to execute a search warrant at 300 Wauchula Way when a suspect pulled into the cul-de-sac near the home and fled when he saw officers. The man briefly fled in a vehicle before jumping out of the car and running away on foot. The suspect, Jerome Allen, 26, of Marietta, was located walking on Trickum Road a short time later and arrested.

Agents then searched the Wauchula Way home and discovered large quantities of heroin and fentanyl inside. Officials said it appeared the primary purpose of the house was to process drugs. Because of dangers associated with fentanyl, the Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services Hazardous Material Team was called in.

Haz Mat team members confirmed there was fentanyl inside the home. Agents wearing protective gear collected evidence inside the house, which included approximately 1 pound of heroin mixed with fentanyl, 13 ounces of methamphetamine and firearms.

Allen was charged with possession of a schedule 1 narcotic for THC Vape pens located in his vehicle and remained in custody at the Cherokee jail with a $4,875 bond on Friday morning.

Two other suspects connected to the investigation and who lived at the Wauchula Way home were arrested Thursday in Sandy Springs on drug charges.

Edward Ball, 36, of Woodstock, and Katie Marissa Zepeta, 31, of Woodstock, are facing drug and weapons charges in Cherokee County. Both face charges of manufacturing heroin, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking heroin, possession of Xanax, three counts of distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ball has additional charges of sale of heroin and two counts of sale of methamphetamine.