Newton Citizen

Photo by Britt Guarglia

COVINGTON -- The Covington/Newton County Special Investigations Unit recently made two drug-related arrests at a residence at 230 Oak Hill Drive.

"We'd been getting complaints of drug activity at that address for several months," said SIU Special Agent Paul Madsen.

Arrested and charged were Bobby Dennis, 36, who was charged with sale of marijuana, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and Marchelus Dennis, 20, who was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Both men listed the Oak Hill Drive address as their residence.

Also arrested during the bust was Chris English, 36, of 2250 River Road who was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Madsen said when SIU agents and S.W.A.T. Team members entered the residence, English would not comply with their commands and was arrested as a result.

Madsen said Bobby Dennis was well known to drug enforcement officers.

"EMDET (East Metro Drug Enforcement Team) hit him in 2006 for trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He did a little time in prison and he got right out and he's doing it again," Madsen said.

Recovered during the search was powder cocaine and marijuana, each substance worth about $150, Madsen said.

"But it's those little nickle and dimers that cause the most trouble (in neighborhoods)," he said. "There's a lot of people in and out, trash all over the yard. Big time dealers keep all that sort of thing cleaned up."