DeKalb Sheriff's Office and Smithville Police Department join forces to form new drug task force

June 20, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Over the past several months, members of the new drug task force, made up of officers from the Smithville Police and DeKalb Sheriff's Department, have executed search warrants that resulted in arrests.

In one of the cases, Joshua McAllen Beckham, 32, of White Street, Smithville, was charged with sale and delivery of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, altering the serial number of a weapon and being an armed and dangerous criminal. . At the time of his arrest, bail was set at $61,500.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 22, while conducting a search of 303 White Street, a residence known to be occupied by Beckham, a convicted felon, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department and Smithville police officers found a Harrington and Richardson 20 gauge shotgun with the serial number removed in Beckham's bedroom. Beckham had in his possession 1.6 grams of methamphetamine, several small baggies consistent with drug resale and various drug paraphernalia as well as a Cobra FS380 handgun.

Meanwhile, James Bullard, 60, of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, Xanax, buprenorphine and marijuana with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, bail was set at $97,500.

Sheriff Ray said on May 31, officers executed a search warrant at 1429 King Ridge Road in Dowelltown. During a search of the residence, two plastic bags containing a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine, three pieces of yellow pills believed to be Xanax and four and a half orange pills believed to be believed to be buprenorphine was discovered in a magnetic box from a bedroom. The search also found glass pipes, digital scales, a small glass jar and a metal container containing white residue in the house. During a search of Bullard himself, a plastic bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found in his left front pants pocket.

“True public safety requires collaboration between the police department and the sheriff’s department. By working together, we are able to combine our resources and manpower to better combat drugs in our communities,” said Police Chief Mark Collins.

“The Sheriff's Department and police are attempting to use all available resources to stop the distribution of narcotics. We are committed to our citizens to strong but fair law enforcement efforts regarding the sale and/or delivery of narcotics in our cities throughout DeKalb County,” added Sheriff Ray.

More arrests are to come.