Since the Cherokee County Task Force was first created, they have had many large drug seizures and fought well in battle against drugs in our county.

About six months ago, they successfully completed the largest methamphetamine bust the county has ever seen and on Jan. 24, 2001, they made their largest crack cocaine bust to date.

At 11 a.m. last Wednesday morning, Jerry Harris, 42, of Howell's Crossroads was arrested for allegedly having two ounces of crack cocaine in his possession. He was charged with trafficking in cocaine and VPL (possession of alcohol in a dry county). District Judge John Kelsey set his bond at $100,000.

This arrest came at the end of a three-month long investigation. Harris was already on probation for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. That morning, Cedar Bluff Police Chief Steve Walden spotted Harris returning home from Georgia. He contacted Centre Officer Quassi Covington who proceeded to stop and search the vehicle. The cocaine, $200 and the car were seized. The drugs have a projected street value of $3,500.

The Narcotics Task Force is comprised of officers from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the Centre and Cedar Bluff Police Departments, the ABC Board and the Alabama Marine Police