McColl drug bust turns up cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, weapons
MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW) — A Marlboro County Sheriff's Office investigation led to the seizure of counterfeit money, drugs, a firearm and multiple arrests, authorities said Saturday.
Investigators said it's all part of 'Operation Clean Sweep,' an ongoing effort around the McColl area. A drug warrant served Friday night at the Red Bluff Road home of Robert Keith Locklear turned up the following:
1.2 grams of fentanyl
34 grams of methamphetamine
3.19 grams of cocaine
2.17 grams of marijuana
methadone wafer tablets
Smith & Wesson .380 firearm
Locklear is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, simple possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.
Two other men were arrested, authorities said: Kevin Falaga is facing charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, simple possession of marijuana and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.
John Kevin Hopkins is facing charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, simple possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of counterfeit money.
Chief Deputy Larry Turner said more arrests are likely in the coming weeks as 'Operation Clean Sweep' continues.
'These dealers have been unable to evade the administration and dedicated efforts of these deputies and investigators,' he said in a statement.
* * *
Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Elderly driver killed in crash at US 87 and Brian Road in Howard County
HOWARD COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An 85-year-old man was killed and a woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in Howard County. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash happened around 3 p.m. on June 3 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 87 and Brian Road. 85-year-old William F. Smith of Big Spring was driving a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta southbound on US 87 when he began slowing to make a left turn onto Brian Road. Preliminary findings indicate Smith failed to yield the right of way at the open intersection and was struck by a northbound 2012 Buick Regal. Smith, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Buick Regal, 38-year-old Chelsey M. Yarbar, also of Big Spring, was taken to Scenic Mountain Medical Center with what officials described as minor injuries. She was also wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation by Trooper Rains with the Texas Highway Patrol in Big Spring. No further details have been released at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
WATCH: Lewis County judge tackles suspect in courthouse after attempting to flee
This story was originally published on A Lewis County judge detained a suspect personally by tackling him and holding him down until law enforcement arrived. According to security footage obtained by The Centralia Chronicle, Judge R.W. Buzzard assisted in restraining a man who attempted to escape court. The suspect ran for the elevator, fought with a court officer, and tried to get away before Buzzard tackled him in a hallway on the fourth floor of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center. Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer also aided in restraining the suspect. The suspect, Justin Smith, 29, of Chehalis, was reprimanded for skipping court-ordered mental health treatment. He fled from Judge Joely Yeager's courtroom just before 12 p.m. Tuesday after he was ordered to go back into police custody for missing his treatment. In the obtained security footage, Court Security Officer Jamey McGinty is seen drawing and aiming his Taser at Smith. Smith's court-ordered defense attorney, Christopher Baum, was also there during the confrontation. Cornered in an elevator, Smith swung and punched McGinty before Buzzard took him to the ground. The three stayed for several minutes to keep him restrained before law enforcement officers were able to arrive. Smith was booked into jail at approximately 12:05 p.m. According to The Centralia Chronicle, this was at least the third time Buzzard had personally restrained someone in the Lewis County Law and Justice Center. In April 2018, Buzzard physically restrained someone after they assaulted the opposing attorney. Six months later, in October, he chased after two inmates who attempted to flee from a court hearing. He was able to grab one of the inmates before he left the building, while the second escapee was caught a couple of blocks away. Follow Frank Sumrallon X. Send news tips here.
Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Deadline Approaching: Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (RCAT) Investors Who Lost Money Urged To Contact Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased Red Cat Holdings, Inc. ('Red Cat' or the 'Company') (NASDAQ: RCAT) securities between March 18, 2022 and January 15, 2025, inclusive (the 'Class Period'). IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN RED CAT HOLDINGS, INC. (RCAT), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT. Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at howardsmith@ by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at What Happened? In March 2022, Red Cat announced that its subsidiary Teal Drones, Inc. ('Teal') had been selected to compete in Tranche 2 of the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record (the 'SRR Program'). On July 27, 2023, Red Cat released its fiscal year 2023 financial results and revealed that its Salt Lake City Facility could only produce 100 drones per month and that construction of the facility was only 'substantially completed' and, while it could potentially reach a production capacity of one thousand drones per month over the next two to three years, it would require additional capital investments. On this news, Red Cat's stock price fell $0.10, or 8.9%, to close at $1.02 per share on July 28, 2023, thereby injuring investors. Then, on September 23, 2024, Red Cat released its first quarter fiscal 2025 financial results, missing consensus estimates and disclosing that it had spent 'the past four months . . . retooling [the Salt Lake City Facility] and preparing for high volume production[,]' while admitting that a 'pause in manufacturing of Teal 2 and building our Army prototypes impacted Teal 2 sales' because it 'couldn't produce and sell Teal 2 units while retooling [its] factory.' On this news, Red Cat's stock price fell $0.80, or 25.3%, over two consecutive trading days to close at $2.36 per share on September 25, 2024. Then, on November 19, 2024, Red Cat announced that it had won the SRR contract, stating that it was worth potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. However, on January 16, 2025, Kerrisdale Capital published a report alleging, among other things, that Red Cat had overstated that value of the SRR Contract and that it was worth approximately $20-25 million, based on U.S. Army budget documents. On this news, Red Cat's stock price fell $2.35, or 21.5%, over two consecutive trading days to close at $8.56 per share on January 17, 2025, thereby injuring investors further. What Is The Lawsuit About? The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Salt Lake City Facility's production capacity, and Defendants' progress in developing the same, was overstated; (2) the overall value of the SRR Contract was overstated; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Red Cat securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than July 22, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements. Contact Us To Participate or Learn More: If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, Telephone: (215) 638-4847 Email: howardsmith@ Visit our website at: To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
