By Corey Arwood
Staff Writer
A long time “person of interest” and a months-long operation led Elmore County law enforcement to over 100 grams of a hardcore controlled substance, with “estimated street value” of $20,000, said Elmore County Sheriff’s officials.
Sheriff Bill Franklin said it all culminated in a traffic stop that produced 162 grams of ice methamphetamine, otherwise known as crystal meth.
He said the ECSO had been aware of the Deatsville resident for some time.
“He’s someone that’s been a person of interest for years,” said Franklin, referring to James Dewayne Nix, 50.
The operation, he said, had been in play for months; since July.
Nix was arrested last Wednesday after a traffic stop , the result of the Central Alabama Drug Task Force operation, Franklin said.
Franklin said the CADTF was the “primary player” in the operation.
The operation itself, Franklin said, was complex and involved undercover buyers, surveillance operations, search warrants and traffic stops of targets of the individual, said Franklin.
Nix’s bond is set at $51,500, on three charges of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, he said.
Franklin said they were going to talk with the DA’s office about a bond revocation hearing, due to suspected previous offenses with the substance in Chilton County
Franklin said he did not want to comment on whether Nix was operating in a drug ring, or possibly producing the drug.
Nix had generated a lot of talk around the Deatsville community, Franklin said, and several people had contacted his office with questions about Nix.
And Franklin added, “Nix is the first arrest of the operation but there are more arrest pending in the near future.”
