PINEVILLE -- The Bell County Sheriff’s Department began a round up Wednesday morning with warrants for 24 drug dealers.
The morning started with Bell County Sheriff Deputies spreading throughout the county making drug arrests on warrants.
“Any time we can take drug dealers off the road, it is very successful,” stated Sheriff Bruce Bennett.
A number of arrests were made in Pineville, including a former Pineville Police Officer, Mike “Dutch” Goodin, 46, for first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, Oxycodone. Sheriff Bennett said it hurts seeing people dealing in drugs.
“It is very devastating and very heartbreaking to see anyone doing this, but an ex-police officer, it hurts even more. He was out here enforcing the law and now he has changed over to the other side. It is heart breaking. It is really heartbreaking,” stated Bennett.
Drug dealers hurt all their family members, especially the children. There were a number of people that were arrested; many appeared somewhat unconcerned about their children, but used them in an attempt to gain the sympathy of the law officers arresting them. While seeing the children in the situation their parents placed them in does tug at the hearts of the officers, it does not keep them from doing their duty in arresting the parents. Children are placed in custody of either relatives or social workers; they are never left alone.
“People are selling drugs to our children and this is the most disgusting thing about this drug business. They prey on our children. If we can take them off the street, even for a while, we feel like we have accomplished something. They shouldn’t be doing this with our children, period. When they stoop so low that they are involving children in their activity, that is rock bottom,” explained Sheriff Bennett.
During the drug round up children could be seen wandering around an apartment complex, looking for someone to take care of them while their parents are in jail. One child was observed knocking on several doors for some time before they found someone who would take care of them while their parents are in custody. Deputies had photos, movies and witnesses for each alleged drug buy by each suspect arrested Wednesday.
“It breaks you heart. We care so much about those children. It breaks your heart to see them in that environment. What are they learning? We had a beautiful young girl chasing around the street. We don’t know what was in her heart, but we know we are going to help her and hopefully we can get her out of that environment,” Bennett said with emotion.
Some of those being arrested appeared to be using their children to get law officers’ focus off them. Sheriff Bennett said the welfare of the children is a concern as well as getting a drug dealer off the streets.
“Having a child in such a home, they can’t care like they should. If they want those children they have to care for them. Don’t put them in that environment. We are trying to stop this and will continue to do this,” stated Bennett.
Using drugs in front of their children also places a lot of pressure on them and Sheriff Bennett said many of the children have been abused and abandoned.
“Even though they are in the house, they are abandoned. That parent doesn’t care, evidently, or they wouldn’t be doing drugs,” said Bennett.
Bennett’s department is continuing investigation into illegal drug activity in Bell County. Anyone with a drug tip may call the sheriff’s office at 606-337-3102 or send them via e-mail at tips@bellcountysheriff.org
Assisting in Wednesday’s drug round-up from the Bell County Sheriff’s Department were Chief Deputy David Cornelius, Deputies Carl Frith, David Brock, Max Graves, B.J. Brock, Doug Jordan, Kyle Dunn, Jack Owens, Miron Southerland, and from the Middlesboro Police Department, Sgt. Mike Hensley, Lt. Robin Venable, Detective Joe Holder and Officer Petie Gilbert.
C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.
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