The collaboration between the sheriff’s offices in Chester and Fairfield Counties netted a number of drug arrests last week.
As a result of a narcotics investigation into the Mitford and Great Falls areas that resulted in search warrants in Fairfield County last week, more arrests have been made. For months, both the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and Chester County Sheriff’s Office narcotics units have worked a joint investigation in an effort to disrupt some of the illegal drug sales in the Mitford and Great Falls communities. In addition to Matthew Costenbader, Brady Barron, and Kalvis Ingram being arrested the previous week, five other known narcotics dealers have been arrested as well.
Artarius Howze, John Lipford, Shaun Ingram, Bradley Sheppard, and Billy Mitchell were taken into custody on narcotics related offenses that occurred in both Chester and Fairfield Counties.
Artarius Howze, was charged with three counts of distribution of methamphetamine 3rd offense, distribution of fentanyl 3rd offense, and possession of fentanyl 3rd offense.
Shaun Ingram was charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st offense and distribution of fentanyl 1st offense.
Bradley Sheppard was charged with distribution of heroin 3rd offense and possession of methamphetamine 3rd offense.
John Lipford, was charged with distribution of fentanyl 2nd offense.
Billy Mitchell, was charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st offense.
Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery said, “I want to thank (Chester County) Sheriff (Max) Dorsey for all of the assistance regarding this narcotics operation. It is because of the solid working relationship between the two narcotics units that this operation was successful. Thank you again to these communities as well. Citizens in both of these communities were instrumental with the information they provided, which also led to these arrests.”
“Our office is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure drug dealers and drug traffickers are removed from our communities,” Dorsey said. “This investigation is another example of the cooperation Chester and Fairfield Counties have in the pursuit to improve the safety and quality of life for our citizens.”
Howze is the only one of the five being housed in the Chester County Detention Center (the others are in Fairfield County). He was denied bond on his charges.
If you have any information regarding illegal narcotic sales in Fairfield County, you are urged to contact the Narcotics Unit at 803-635-6245 or you may call the Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141 and your name will remain anonymous.
