logo
New task force leads to big narcotics bust in Brown Summit, sheriff's office says

New task force leads to big narcotics bust in Brown Summit, sheriff's office says

Yahoo2 days ago

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A Guilford County man has been charged with 12 felonies related to drug trafficking here in the Triad.
Micheal Blake Turner, 39, was arrested after the newly formed Guilford County Narcotics Task Force executed search warrants in Brown Summit and what they found was massive: 36 kilograms of cocaine, 44,000 grams of marijuana, 91 grams of ecstasy, 1700 grams of fentanyl, 16 firearms (4 of them reported stolen) and a large amount of cash.
'It is really a drop in the bucket of what this task force has accomplished over the last 5 months,' said Chief John Thompson from the Greensboro Police Department.
The Greensboro Police Department teamed up with the Guilford County Sheriff's Office and state agencies to get more drugs off the streets. 'Specifically targeting those involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of illegal narcotics in the triad,' said Sheriff Danny Rogers from the Guilford County Sheriff's Office.
The task force officially launched 2 weeks ago, but has been working together for several months. Since January, they've taken more than one thousand pounds of drugs. In total, 657 pounds of cocaine, 444 pounds of marijuana, 32 pounds of meth, 22 pounds of fentanyl and heroin, one pound of ecstasy pills, 102 guns and more than $1 million in cash have been seized.
'In Greensboro, Guilford County, we are seeing a 13 percent reduction in our violent crime, it is a direct correlation to these seizures the task force is making and the weapons they are taking off the street,' Chief Thompson said.
Chief Thompson also said overdose deaths are down 37 percent in the city. 'It is about protecting lives, it's about restoring safety in our neighborhoods and holding the most dangerous offenders accountable,' Chief Thompson said.
Turner was charged with the following in connection to the bust:
Two counts of felony trafficking fentanyl
Two counts of felony trafficking cocaine
Two counts of felony trafficking marijuana
Teo counts of felony trafficking MDMA
Felony possession of a stolen firearm
Felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Felony maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for controlled substances
Turner is currently being held in the Guilford County jail on a $3 million bond. He is expected back in court next month.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Model prisoner' Luigi Mangione whines about wearing handcuffs, bulletproof vest — makes request to judge
‘Model prisoner' Luigi Mangione whines about wearing handcuffs, bulletproof vest — makes request to judge

Yahoo

time43 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

‘Model prisoner' Luigi Mangione whines about wearing handcuffs, bulletproof vest — makes request to judge

Luigi Mangione doesn't think he should have to appear in court with his hands shackled together and wearing a bulletproof vest. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's alleged assassin has been a 'model prisoner' at his Brooklyn lockup and thus should be allowed to wear 'court-appropriate clothing' when he's back in Manhattan court June 26, his lawyers say. Forcing the 27-year-old accused killer to continue appearing with his hands cuffed and sporting the Kevlar vest will 'perpetuate a false narrative that Mr. Mangione is an unusual danger requiring extraordinary security measures' and 'prejudice' him in the eyes of the jury, his lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo wrote in a legal filing. Mangione was characterized as a 'model prisoner' in his 167 days in pre-trial detention — never being cited for misconduct, requiring no special accommodations and even qualifying for an undisclosed work detail as a member of the general population at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, according to the filing. The University of Pennsylvania graduate is unrestricted during daily visits with his legal counsel at the MDC's common visitor area — a large open room with no barriers between people or groups, which include children and babies, lawyers wrote. Mangione, who is accused of fatally shooting Thompson, 50, in the back on a Manhattan sidewalk on Dec. 4, 2024, poses no threats to these people and thus should be 'treated just like any other pre-trial detainee, not like someone who is a heightened security or flight risk,' the filing argued. The alleged killer has further been 'a model defendant in court' who has been cooperative and respectful of law enforcement officials during the trial, counselors stated. Judge Gregory Carro was initially inclined to accommodate the defense's request to uncuff Mangione during court proceedings on Feb. 21, the court papers noted. 'Go ahead and uncuff him,' Carro said at the time, according to the filing. A court officer then approached the bench for an off-the-record conversation with the judge, who then denied the request, stating, 'For security reasons, they want him cuffed,' according to the filing. Court officers previously expressed concern for their safety when one googly-eyed groupie managed to sneak a heart-shaped love note into a pair of Mangione's argyle socks. 'Luigi, we are rooting for you! Keep your head held high and know there are thousands of people wishing you luck,' the note signed 'r/Free Luigi' read. Prosecutors warned at the time that future contraband smuggled into court could pose a risk to court officers. Lawyers for Mangione are not asking for his legs to be unshackled to 'provide reasonable compromise,' according to the filing. Uniquely forceful security is not new for Mangione, who Manhattan prosecutors claim killed Thompson as 'an act of terrorism.' Mayor Eric Adams was on the helipad alongside machine gun-toting NYPD and FBI agents in a show of force as the accused killer arrived in Manhattan for his first court date. Like most defendants on trial for murder, Mangione appeared without a bulletproof vest when he pleaded not guilty last year — wearing a red sweater, which quickly went viral online.

Nevada County Sheriff's Office K9 helps seize narcotics and a firearm in Grass Valley
Nevada County Sheriff's Office K9 helps seize narcotics and a firearm in Grass Valley

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Nevada County Sheriff's Office K9 helps seize narcotics and a firearm in Grass Valley

( —A K9 search led to an arrest and seizure of narcotics and a firearm on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, with the help of the Grass Valley Police Department, two individuals were arrested for multiple serious drug offenses at around 4:30 p.m. following an investigative stop in the parking lot of a business on Hughes Road. NCSO stated that the suspects have been identified as Kalen Turner, 34, of Nevada City, and Katriena Mulligan, 24, of Grass Valley. NCSO Deputy Ramos and her K9 partner Riggs were on patrol going down East Main Street in Grass Valley, where she saw a suspicious vehicle backing into a car wash but not utilizing the facility. The deputy recognized the vehicle from a prior criminal investigation of drug and property crimes in Nevada County, according to officials. Deputy Ramos conducted a visual surveillance of the vehicle at the business and contacted GVPD since it was within their jurisdiction. Rep. Josh Harder announces legislation to stop invasion of 'stinky' golden mussels NCSO stated that GVPD officers and investigators arrived in the area and assisted Deputy Ramos with observation of the vehicle, which was a 2013 gray Ford Focus. After 20 minutes, the NCSO deputy and GVPD officers saw Mulligan arrive driving a 2007 white Scion and contact Turner, the driver of the Ford Focus, according to NCSO. Both of them drove to a convenience store on Hughes Road, where they parked together behind the businesses and away from the view of the road. NCSO said, 'Detectives were able to position themselves to continue to watch Turner and Mulligan, who then proceeded to complete a 'hand-to-hand' transaction witnessed by the officers.' NCSO Deputy Ramos and GVPD officers conducted a stop on the suspects' vehicles in the parking lot, where narcotics and drug paraphernalia were seen in plain view, according to authorities. At this time, both of the vehicles were searched, yielding the discovery and seizure of fentanyl and paraphernalia from each of the cars and in addition to indicia commonly used in illicit drug sales. This also included a scale and packaging materials in Turner's car, according to NCSO. K9 Riggs is trained and POST certified in narcotics detection and was deployed to search the vehicles, where he detected narcotics in both of the vehicles, NCSO stated. Riggs also alerted to the engine compartment of Turner's vehicle, where crews found 90 rounds of ammunition and a handgun under the hood. Both of the drivers, Mulligan and Turner, were booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on multiple drug charges, NCSO stated. Authorities said that Turner is being charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as possession of a controlled substance with two or more prior convictions. At this time, there was no mention of what Mulligan is being charged with. 'We want to extend our gratitude to the Grass Valley Police Department for their partnership in this investigation,' NCSO said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

UnitedHealthcare lawsuit accuses Guardian of trying to ‘capitalize' on CEO's killing
UnitedHealthcare lawsuit accuses Guardian of trying to ‘capitalize' on CEO's killing

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

UnitedHealthcare lawsuit accuses Guardian of trying to ‘capitalize' on CEO's killing

UnitedHealthcare is suing The Guardian for defamation over a story the publication ran related to its billing for nursing home residents. In a May 21 story, The Guardian US alleged that the health care giant saved money at the cost of nursing home residents' health. In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday, UnitedHealthcare said that The Guardian had knowingly published false information, and tried to capitalize on media interest in the killing of its then-CEO last year in New York. The health care company alleged that The Guardian cropped screenshots quoted in the article, taking the email out of its full context. It further disputed some of The Guardian's characterizations of medical events in the story. 'The Guardian knew these accusations were false, but published them anyway, brazenly trying to capitalize on the tragic and shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare's then-CEO, Brian Thompson,' the complaint says. UnitedHealthcare is being represented by the law firm Clare Locke, which has made a name for itself for aggressively pursuing defamation lawsuits against news media organizations. In a fiery statement first shared with Semafor, The Guardian said it was not backing down from its reporting following the lawsuit, saying that the story was backed up by documents and on-the-record lawsuits. 'The Guardian stands by its deeply-sourced, independent reporting, which is based on thousands of corporate and patient records, publicly filed lawsuits, declarations submitted to federal and state agencies, and interviews with more than 20 current and former UnitedHealth employees — as well as statements and information provided by UnitedHealth itself over several weeks,' a spokesperson said. 'It's outrageous that in response to factual reporting on the practice of secretly paying nursing homes to reduce hospitalizations for vulnerable patients, UnitedHealth is resorting to wildly misleading claims and intimidation tactics via the courts.' UnitedHealth has struggled in the months since the high-profile murder of its former CEO. Last month, the company announced that it was replacing its now-former CEO, Andrew Witty, after reporting poor profits and shaky projections for the rest of 2025. And The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is at the center of multiple Department of Justice investigations for potential Medicare fraud. Investors in UHC sued the company last month, alleging it had not adjusted its earnings outlook to account for the killing of Thompson. Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing Thompson, has asked that his New York murder charge be dropped on the grounds that the ongoing federal case against him amounts to double jeopardy. His lawyers have also asked that he not be required to wear shackles or a bulletproof vest to court.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store