Arrests target heroin problem in Columbus

Two men are in custody on felony drug dealing charges after they were arrested Thursday night by detectives from the Joint Narcotics

Brian Jones; Photo courtesy of the Columbus Police Department
Brian Jones; Photo courtesy of the Columbus Police Department

Enforcement Team, with help from officers with the Columbus Police Department. Authorities are thanking area residents for lodging several anonymous complaints, which led to the investigation. They add that the investigation lasted several months.

As a result of the investigation, officers arrested Brian “Big Country” Jones, 40, of Columbus, during a traffic stop on Third Street. Jones was taken into custody without incident after officers allegedly found him in possession of heroin.

While preparing to serve a search warrant on a home in the 700 block of Union Street, officers say that they found Steve “Neno” Whitley, 51, of Indianapolis, seated on the porch. Whitley was taken into custody after he allegedly threw a sock containing heroin and cocaine on to the ground as officers approached him. Police add that they also confiscated nearly $2,200 in cash from Whitley.

During a search of the Union Street home, officers reported finding items used to package narcotics, along with other drug paraphernalia,

Steve Whitley; Photo courtesy of the Columbus Police Department
Steve Whitley; Photo courtesy of the Columbus Police Department

including syringes, spoons and scales.

Authorities say that Jones and Whitley were booked in the Barthlomew County Jail on a 48-hour hold on the following preliminary charges:

Brian A. Jones: Two Counts of Dealing Heroin and Possession of Heroin

Steve W. Whitley: Two Counts of Dealing Herion, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. The team is also thanking the Columbus Police COPS Unit, CPD K-9 Unit as well as the CPD Uniform Division for their help in this investigation.