Sheriff’s Office makes arrest on meth trafficker

LENOIR, NC (May 24, 2017)…Sheriff Alan C. Jones has announced the drug division, commonly known as “Ice Unit (Inner-County Counterdrug Enforcement) concluded an investigation with the arrest of Jeffrey Brent Church, age 53, of Connelly Springs. Church has been the focus of an undercover drug investigation for several months and was arrested on April 27, 2017, and charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine after a search warrant for drugs at his residence at 5 Pinewood Road in Granite Falls had been executed. During that search, just over $9,000 in cash, firearms, approximately 39 grams of methamphetamine and 53 oxycodone pills were located and seized by Agents. After his arrest, Church subsequently posted bonds for pending drug charges in Catawba and Caldwell Counties and was released from custody.

On May 23, 2017, a separate investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Ice Unit nabbed Church yesterday in a vehicle stop on White Pine Drive in Sawmills. Church was found to be in possession of approximately 56.5 grams of methamphetamine, two pistols, and $4,637 cash. The drugs seized during these operations have a street value of $16,935 according to North Carolina State Drug Guidelines. More charges are expected on Church.

The following individual was arrested and charged with the listed crimes:

Jeffrey Brent Church, W/M, age 53
Edwards Circle
Connelly Springs, NC
• One (1) Count Felonious Trafficking in Methamphetamine by Possession.
• One (1) Count Felonious Trafficking in Methamphetamine by Transportation.

Church was incarcerated in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond on the charges. He has a first appearance in District Court in Lenoir on May 25, 2017.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is always in search of any information involving the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances. A concerned citizen’s information and assistance will be kept confidential. If you have any information concerning illegal drug activity in Caldwell County, please contact the:

Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office I.C.E. Unit at 828-757-1178.
Lenoir Police Department’s Narcotics Division at 828-757-2145.
Hudson Police Department at 828-728-5021.
Granite Falls Police Department at 828-396-3358.
Caldwell County Crimestoppers at 828-758-8300.