By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
Police conducted a drug raid on three East Cemetery Street houses, where they seized drugs, weapons, prescription medicines and a tape of dog-fighting. Five people, including a teenager, were arrested.
Salisbury Police investigators and members of the gang unit executed three search warrants Friday night at the same time on East Cemetery Street.
The search warrants were the result of an ongoing investigation in the area targeting illegal drugs, Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said.
At 422 East Cemetery St., police arrested four people on a variety of charges and seized three grams of crack cocaine, 1.6 grams of marijuana, three handguns, two sets of brass knuckles and various prescription drugs that included Lorcet, Endocet, Loritabs and Anexsi.
Arrested at 422 E. Cemetery St. were:
– Jerry Francis Propst Jr., 16, who was charged with possession of stolen goods ó a Colt 45-caliber handgun ó and possession of crack cocaine.
Propst was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond. He has since been released.
– Calarmel Carter McKenzie, 53, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and failure to appear in court.
McKenzie was placed under $10,500 bond. She has since been released.
– Melanie Vanessa Smith, 22, was charged with two counts of possession of a schedule III susbstance, possession of marijuana and failure to appear in court.
Smith was placed in the detention center under a $5,900 bond and has since been released.
– Harriett Ozell McKenzie, 30, was charged with assault on a government official. McKenzie was placed in jail under a $1,500 bond and has since then been released.
At 519 East Cemetery St., police arrested Christopher Oakman, 22, of 1022 Celebration Drive. He was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine after officers seized 0.7 grams of cocaine along with $1,000 in cash. Oakman was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond. He has since been released.
At 5201/2 East Cemetery St., police seized a video tape of dog-fighting; however no arrests have been made at this location.
This investigation is continuing and charges may follow, Wilhelm said.