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Mountain Home News

20 arrested in drug busts, more to come

Friday, July 16, 2010

The Elmore County Sheriff's Office is concluding the first phase of an investigation that has resulted in the arrest of 20 people so far on a variety of drug charges, including selling prescription medications.

Dubbed Operation Desert Ice, "this case was a large success and should have a tremendous impact on the counties and communities where the investigations were conducted," Sheriff Rick Layer said, adding that he hopes "this will send a strong message to people who are involved with selling drugs and selling their prescription medicine."

Eleven of the arrests were made Thursday night and one Friday afternoon. The others had been made earlier, in Elmore, Gooding and Owyhee counties.

The case began in November 2009 when the sheriff's office targeted "a large group of individuals" in Elmore County that were allegedly distributing methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.

At times, the detectives and deputies worked with both the Gooding County and Owyhee County sheriff's offices in join investigations of those allegedly selling and distributing the drugs in those counties.

Over the nine-month investigation arrest warrants were obtained and arrests made on 19 people for crimes ranging from possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, aiding and abetting the delivery of a controlled substance and delivery of a controlled substance with a child present.

The amount of drugs involved ranged from several pounds of marijuana to small amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine. The cases included the selling of prescription drugs.

Sheriff's office detectives anticipate more arrests in the case "as the first part of this case prepares to move to the court level," authorities said. Additional arrests are expected Friday and over the weekend.

The exact amount of each type of drug seized was not disclosed, and the names and charges of those arrested were not immediately released but will be carried in Wednesday's Mountain Home News. Names have not been immediately released due to the continuing investigation.

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  • I was wondering why the names of these "alleged" criminals were not disclosed in this article...I guess I'll check on arrests in the paper.

    -- Posted by senior lady on Fri, Jul 16, 2010, at 10:14 AM

  • I still say Mtn. Home needs a arrest website like Ada and Canyon counties.. Or even better they could put a flyer in the Sunday paper with all the arrests and mugshots like another paper I know of... I think it is a good deterrent for criminals as well as a way for the community to know what is going on.

    -- Posted by Idahogrinder on Fri, Jul 16, 2010, at 11:57 AM

  • hmmmmm it's up to 20 arrested.

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Jul 16, 2010, at 3:25 PM

  • Ha a drug bust in Mtn Home??? no way! lol

    -- Posted by MGMH on Fri, Jul 16, 2010, at 8:01 PM

  • Finally! Good job to all those involved in the arrests! It would be great to get our community back.

    -- Posted by avidreader on Fri, Jul 16, 2010, at 11:07 PM

  • It is a good effort but taking these people off the streets will produce others waiting to take their place, or until they bond out.

    -- Posted by treasureisland on Sat, Jul 17, 2010, at 10:02 AM

  • I think that Elmore sherriffs and jail and even the mt home news needs to publish the names of those aressted and those sitting in jail using tax payer money!!! come on sherriff built a new jail spent our tax money atleast let us know whos in it besides the 85 prison population that you lease out

    -- Posted by ohididnot on Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 5:39 PM
  • *

    according to one of the jail sgts, now that canyon county pulled theirs out, our jail is only housing about 85-90 prisoners. (before fridays final count)

    -- Posted by BassmasterJ8 on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 2:34 AM

  • Its Odd ??

    How come the Government has money (two trillion dollars since 1970 spent on the Drug War) to arrest and jail these people,(without any proper Regulation), they are not protecting anybody but getting in the news

    but the Government just can't seem to find enough money for ahhh lets see, SCHOOLS, ROADS, Sports Equipment, you know all this Bonds and Taxes stuff

    and the Government keeps coming back with their palms out asking for more money (taxes) from the property owner

    Its Odd don't you think

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 8:25 AM

  • Once again,,,TROLL ALERT!

    -- Posted by MrMister on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 3:27 PM
  • *

    MrMister you have alot of room to talk about a TROLL ALERT!!!!!!, you fall into that class all the time as a TROLL, you are not the big man you think you are and your comments at times are going to get you into trouble.

    -- Posted by Eagle_eye on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 5:32 PM

  • Ya, ok, publish the arrests online like Ada/Canyon County do...Then you would all complain about taxpayers money going towards this. Gimme a break. No one could ever win in that situation. In Elmore County at least....

    -- Posted by mhg4316 on Wed, Jul 21, 2010, at 9:46 AM

  • Looks as if the names of all those arrested are in today's paper. Wow. What a haul.

    -- Posted by senior lady on Wed, Jul 21, 2010, at 10:13 PM

  • wow mass arrests, whats next book burnings ?

    -- Posted by Freedom on Thu, Jul 22, 2010, at 6:35 AM
  • *

    Idahoclover, do you have something against me that you have to drag my name through the mud even when I in no way involved? Where do you come up with your information? Looneytown or are you just really McKenzie harassing me some more?

    -- Posted by Mrs. Molly on Fri, Jul 23, 2010, at 10:49 PM

  • Don't matter how many people they arrest, they will all get a slap on the wrist and set free to poison more people with meth. I believe in second chances for first offenders or the young but the majority of these people will keep on doing what they do, I personally know quite a few people that have been busted time and time again and they don't change and it's not pot I'm talking about, it's meth thats ruining our community. I'm so tired of hearing about all these so called busts and you see the people that got arrested out running around a couple days later...

    -- Posted by Moanah on Sat, Jul 24, 2010, at 7:02 PM

  • Well, well, haven't been back to this story for awhile. And imagine my surprise when I see that 'ole EE is back at it again (not really surprised). Why do you think what you have written there, EE? Did I do something to tick you off? If so, what is it? Is it that I respond to irrational blogs? Is that it??? Is it that I call a spade a spade? Is that it??? Is it that I actually question some non-sensical post here?

    Eagle puppy,

    Please explain how I am an internet troll??? I simply comment on posts that I think are irrational and stupid. Heck, look at your post:

    "MrMister you have alot of room to talk about a TROLL ALERT!!!!!!, you fall into that class all the time as a TROLL, you are not the big man you think you are and your comments at times are going to get you into trouble."

    -- Posted by Eagle_eye on Mon, Jul 19, 2010, at 5:32 PM

    I don't think I'm any kind of "big man" at all? What I do think is that you can't accept opinions other that your own (or of your annointed one). And how are my comments going to get me in trouble, puppy?

    -- Posted by MrMister on Sun, Jul 25, 2010, at 9:21 PM
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