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In a joint effort between Clay and Towns County law enforcement five people were arrested and a substantial amount of Fentanyl was confiscated on Feb. 7.
Clay County Investigator Nick Queen and Sgt. Tyler Faggard were conducting surveillance of a residence located in Young Harris, Ga. in conjunction with the Towns County Sheriff’s Office. The site was just south of the state line down Georgia Highway 66, a residence suspected of supplying illegal drugs to North Carolina residents, according to Sheriff Mark Buchanan.
Buchanan said in a press release that at 8:20 p.m. a Buick Encore left the residence and traveled into North Carolina. The car was stopped by Queen at on Old Hwy 64 West. Clay County Sgt. Steven Smith, N.C. Trooper A.J. Gordon and Cherokee County investigator Morgan assisted with the stop.
The driver of the car was fBrianna Jean Turner, 27, of Murphy. Passengers were nSandra Gail Dragoo, 68, of Murphy; Stacie Sabrina Graves, 51, of Murphy; Daniel Scott Turner, 27, of Murphy; and Tosha Savannah Eller, 31, of Hayesville. As Turner got out of the car, Queen noted a silver cup containing a substance in the floorboard that was believed to be Fentanyl.
A thorough search of the car was conducted. A small plastic baggy containing suspected Fentanyl was seized from the car. Although none of the vehicle’s occupants claimed ownership of the suspected Fentanyl, one admitted they had come from Greg Breitenbach’s residence at 17 Byron Road. All five occupants of the vehicle were arrested and charged with felony possession of Fentanyl. Turner and Graves were not given a bond due to already being out for previous felony charge(s). The remaining three were given $10,000 secured bonds.
As soon as Fentanyl was discovered within the vehicle, Faggard and Towns County Lt. Forsyth were notified. Based on this and other information, a Georgia search warrant was obtained for Breitenbach’s residence. Multiple officers from the Towns County Sheriff’s Office with Clay County Officers executed the search warrant. Breitenbach was present and a substantial amount of Fentanyl was seized during the search.
Breitenbach, 44, of Young Harris, Ga., was charged by Towns County Sheriff’s Officers with felony possession of Fentanyl, felony possession of Fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of drug related objects. No bond was allowed for Breitenbach. Information was later received that additional Fentanyl may be found at Breitenbach’s residence. When officers returned to the residence, they seized 40.9 grams of Fentanyl.
“The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is proud to have an outstanding partnership with those at the Towns County Sheriff’s Office and this investigation illustrates just that,” said Buchanan. “Clay and Towns Counties have so very much in common including the sharing of those peddling dangerous drugs within our communities. Investigations such as this should be a warning to those using our state lines as a shield and thinking our two agencies are not working “hand in hand” to free our communities from the blight of illegal drugs.”