The Demopolis Police Department brought closure to a nearly 10-month-long investigation Friday morning with what DPD Chief Tommie Reese called “a wake up call.”

At approximately 4:30 a.m. Friday morning, officers with the DPD were joined by agents from the Alabama Beverage and Control Board, the Selma Police Department SWAT Team, 4th Judicial Drug Task Force, 17th Judicial Drug Task Force and Marengo County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of three search warrants in the city.

“I told them Thursday, we’re going to wake them up,” Reese said of the early morning raid that netted 21 arrests with more likely to follow.

“I asked for the extra manpower from the assisting agencies because of the size of the operation and the number of people involved.”

Officers executed warrants at 1127 Edgemont Villiage, 505 Wolf Circle and 1305 Edgewood Circle where they found drugs, drug paraphernalia and guns at two of the residences.

Officers also worked their way through the city in a coordinated sweep picking up defendants on various drug charges as well as seizing vehicles and cash.

All defendants were transported to the Demopolis Police Headquarters where they were processed and later transported to the Marengo County Detention Center to await a bond hearing.

Arrested were:

• Anthony Winters Charleston, 38, charged with (4) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• George Winston Gracie, 22, charged with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Timothy Stewart, 20, charged with (3) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana

• Samantha Jane Corkerin, 41, charged with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Kirk Douglas Rowser, 45, charged with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Ernest Glenn Bryant, 55, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia

• Robert Keith Hall, Sr., 48, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Jarrod Andre Moore, 45, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Benjamin King, 32, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Hugh Williams Hosmer, 67, charged with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Lee Olen Elliot, Jr., 44, charged with (3) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Charlene Freeman Hill, 37, charged with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Blake Claude Brame, 19, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Brandon Cortex Branch, 22, charged with (4) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Abraham Steele, 51, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance and Certain Person Forbidden to Possession a Firearm

• Russell Wayne McCray, 22, with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Eric Walton, 34, charged with (3) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Leonard Foster Essex, 19, charged with (6) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

• Gregory Harbin, 23, charged with (1) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

• Teresa Essex, 44, charged with (1) counts of Theft of Property First

• Pamela Charleston, 52, charged with (2) counts of Distribution of Controlled Substance

“I want to say thanks to all of the agencies involved for their cooperation and participation in the raid,” Reese said. “I also want to commend the officers and give special thanks to the DPD Narcotic Division for all the hard work in this operation as well as the DPD SWAT Team.”

Reese reminded suspected drug dealers and users who were not apprehended in the raid Friday of the mantra his drug investigators live by, “Today could be your day.”