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44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, February 23, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 13, 2004 Agents seize crack stash By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Authorities seized "a significant amount" of crack cocaine and made four arrests Wednesday afternoon at a Medford apartment. Agents from the Jackson County Narcotics Enforcement Team (JACNET) and Drug Enforcement Administration searched the apartment in the 1000 block of Spring Street around 3 p.m. and found 68.9 grams of crack. Two hours earlier, investigators with the Medford Police Department’s gang and street drug unit arrested a suspected crack dealer in a neighborhood near North Medford High School. That arrest came after discovering a small amount of crack at a house; that search also yielded repackaging materials and other evidence of sales, police said. "Cocaine is definitely rearing its ugly head again," Medford police Lt. Tim George said. Advertisement Drug investigators said officials statewide are finding more cocaine recently, in both crack and powder forms. In the mid- to late-’80s cocaine was relatively inexpensive and its use was widespread in Jackson County, George said. Then methamphetamine, which could be produced locally and cheaply, pushed out cocaine as the drug of choice for area users. "Meth is still the primary drug here," JACNET Detective Rick Valentine said. Those arrested at the Spring Street apartment likely aren’t major dealers, but the 2.4 ounces discovered is a significant amount of the drug, Valentine said. Officers arrested Darryl Dwayne Parker, 39, of the 600 block of West Second Street, Medford, on charges of delivery of cocaine and fourth-degree assault. The assault charge was linked to a previously reported assault, Valentine said. Parker was lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Officers also arrested Brenda Simpson, 23, of the 1200 block of Shannon Drive, Medford, on charges of manufacture, delivery and possession of cocaine and lodged her in jail. Stephanie Baxter, 43, a resident of the Spring Street apartment that was raided, was charged with manufacture, delivery and possession of cocaine. She wasn’t lodged in jail, according to jail records. Wanda Lee Watkins, 32, of the 600 block of West Second Street, Medford, was charged with possession and delivery of cocaine, but wasn’t lodged in jail. In the MPD arrest, suspect Marty Dupree Hilliard, 28, of the 1500 block of Yucca Street, was arraigned Thursday on charges of delivering and manufacturing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court records also list a co-defendant, Lisa Dawn Hilliard, 26, who faces charges of possession of cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times