02/08/13 — Four facing charges in city drug raid

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Four facing charges in city drug raid

By John Joyce
Published in News on February 8, 2013 1:46 PM

An investigation conducted by the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations culminated in a brief vehicle chase and four arrests Thursday.

A search warrant, served at 170 Best Ave., with the assistance of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office including members of its SWAT team and patrol deputies from the department's "B" shift, resulted in the seizure of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

According to a press release issued today by the Sheriff's Office, Corey Ramon Best Jr., 19, Kadeem Harris, 18, DeRonte Artis, 19, and Aquavius Daniels, 19, were all charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. Artis was also charged with maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of keeping a controlled substance, and Best was charged with maintaining a vehicle for the same purposes, as well as fleeing to elude arrest.

Best was eventually detained after a brief chase. He arrived at the drug house just as officers and agents were preparing to serve the search warrant. According to the press release, he took an "evasive course of action" to escape.

Best drove over a ditch and across a yard, finally coming to a stop on John Court. There he was arrested and found to be in possession of drugs.

Daniels and Artis, the residents of 170 Best Ave., are being held under $1,000 and $2,000 secured bonds, respectively. Harris was also placed in jail under a $1,000 secured bond, while Best was placed under a $5,000 secured bond.

An official with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said that none of the men arrested Thursday were members of the Air Force, but that OSI's involvement likely came because they may have been suspected of selling drugs to Air Force personnel.