US Marshals from Indiana descended on Grayville Thursday morning with assistance from White County Sheriff’s authorities, Grayville Police, Illinois State Police and SWAT officers. Officials say Posey County authorities were doing a drug operation that culminated with 22 suspects charged with committing drug dealing and other drug related offenses. It was just before 11am when White County Sheriff Jordan Weiss says deputies showed up at a home on Water Street after learning 45 year old Michael Turpin had barricaded himself inside the residence. Wanted on multiple White County warrants, law enforcement would also learn Turpin was wanted as part of the Posey County “Operation Last Dance” mission. Once the search warrant was obtained, US Marshals approached the residence and used non lethal flash bangs and gas canisters inside the residence. Eventually Turpin would emerge and surrendered himself to law enforcement. Bond on the White County warrants was set at $5,000 cash. Officials out of Indiana say the operation is the apex of an 11 month undercover effort named after Posey County Prosecutor’s Office Investigator and Drug Task Force Supervisor Kenneth Rose, who plans to retire later this year after serving the past 45 years in numerous law enforcement roles. Several undercover informants were used to make controlled purchases of illegal narcotics in and around Posey County.
Others arrested include:
Joshua Walden
William Maysville
Birchie Stillwagoner
Katie Jones
Joshua Moore
Erica Higgins
Chrystal Whitmer
Haley Overton
Cody Smith
Brandyn Cox
Jeffrey Turpin
Robert Blankenship
Troy Stewart
Robert Blankenship
Christina Alumbaugh
Andrae Ellington Jr.
Kristina Hall
Cesar Herrera
Alex Kempf
Sara Grabert
Deana Byrd
More information on the operations and individual charges here.
