Staff Writer

Investigators from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and a GBI special agent executed a search warrant early Friday morning that resulted in the arrest on a man and the seizure of several grams of cocaine and a large crack-cocaine "rock".

Lydell Briney, 22, of Rutledge, was arrested and charged with possession of crack-cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, felony obstruction, and the sale of cocaine. The arrest comes as the culmination to a four-month investigation and a flurry of undercover activity during the past two weeks.

The arrest is just one of 30 drug-related arrests logged since the inception of a Drug Investigation Unit established January 1 by Morgan County Sheriff Robert Markley. The task force utilizes two full-time undercover officers as well as the personnel and resources of the entire Sheriff’s Office.

"I’ve been very pleased with what [the unit] has been doing," said Markley. "Drug trafficking is a chain that continually goes on. This is juts a piece in the puzzle."

Briney’s arrest at his Hollis Street residence in Rutledge did not come without incident, as one deputy reportedly suffered a sprained ankle during the struggle to capture Briney. The officer was transported to Morgan Memorial Hospital for further care, and was released the same day.

Officers reportedly seized approximately 4.5 grams of powder cocaine, a half-gram crack-cocaine rock, and $259 in cash hidden underneath Briney’s bed. According to Investigator Kenny Stewart, the seizure carries a street value of approximately $500.

nt face="New York,Geneva"> The warrant was issued following an alleged sale of cocaine to an undercover officer. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office investigation is largely complete.

"All in all it was pretty successful," said Investigator Bart Fendley. "We got the drugs and put [Briney] out of business."

Fendley later commented on the recent success of the new task force.

"We’ve seen a decline in the number of people hanging out in known drug areas since we’ve started," he said. "But every time we arrest somebody, it seems like someone else is there to take his place. There’s a good bit of [drug trafficking] out there."