Five arrested on drug charges during roundup

Five Delhi residents have been arrested on drug charges, following a three-month investigation by the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Richland Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Terry Thompson said the investigation was headed up by narcotics investigators Joel Williams and Brandon Fleming. Following their investigation, warrants were issued and deputies are now in the process of rounding up the suspects.

Arrested and booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center were:

• Roderick Cleveland, 29, of Chicago St., Delhi, distribution of cocaine, $75,000 bond;

• Zakat Johnson, 33, of Warden St., Delhi, distribution of cocaine and resisting by flight, $75,000 bond.

• Willie Cooper Jr., 33, of Ray St., Delhi; three counts of distribution of cocaine, $75,000 bond.

• Johnny Avery, Vaughn St., Delhi; distribution of cocaine, $25,000 bond; and

• Gerald Criss, 36, of Tweedle St., Delhi, distribution of marijuana, $25,000 bond.

More arrests are planned, Thompson said.

Deputies also arrested Sammy Washington, 31, of Valley St., in Delhi, for possession of Schedule III drugs with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana. He was booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center under $500,000 bond.

Thompson said the bond was so highly in part because Washington had been convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute last month and was out on bail awaiting sentencing when the police stopped his car for a traffic stop and found 23 pills and a bag of marijuana.