JACKSON – Apparently, two convicted drug dealers failed to learn their lesson the first time around.

Over the past two weeks, George Reed, an agent with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, has arrested a pair of county men previously convicted on drug charges.

The latest arrest came in Gaston on Friday, Oct. 10, where 80-year-old Bollie Green Lashley of 1223 Grant St. was charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale and deliver crack cocaine. In addition, Lashley faces charges of maintaining a vehicle, place or dwelling to store a controlled substance, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Northampton County Jail under a $62,000 secured bond.

Agent Reed confirmed that Lashley was arrested in 1999 on similar drug charges. This time around, he was found in possession of 21 hits of crack cocaine as well as $1,000 in cash in his pockets.

&uot;This was a case where concerned citizens as well as our own surveillance noted a high volume of traffic on Grant Street,&uot; said Reed. &uot;This is a dead end street and one that only has three houses. Given those facts, there shouldn’t have been that much traffic on that street.&uot;

Reed praised the help of the local citizens as well as offering his thanks to Gaston Police Chief Thomas Massey for his assistance in the investigation.

Citizen complaints and surveillance by Reed led to the Oct. 3 arrest of another previously convicted drug dealer.

Reed reported that Titus Devon Manley, 20, of 100 Thomas St., Conway was arrested at his home at approximately 5:30 p.m. There, according to Reed’s information, Manley was allegedly selling cocaine from his yard while under house arrest from another drug charge.

&uot;I had arrested Mr. Manley in April of this year while conducting a sting operation at Deberry’s Millpond,&uot; stated Reed. &uot;As a part of his probation following the conviction on those drug charges, Mr. Manley was placed under house arrest. However, that didn’t seem to slow him down as we continued to receive information from concerned citizens who claimed he was still dealing in drugs.&uot;

Reed’s surveillance of Manley’s residence confirmed those citizen concerns.

Manley was charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale and deliver cocaine, maintaining a vehicle, place or dwelling to store a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond.

&uot;I would like to take this opportunity to urge the citizens of Northampton County to continue to call us and share their concerns dealing with possible illegal drug activity,&uot; concluded Reed. &uot;Together, we can make a difference.&uot;