WINTON – An operation involving five local agencies netted 48 charges here last weekend.

According to Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan, his office worked with officers from the Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency, the Ahoskie Police Department, the Murfreesboro Police Department and the City-County Drug Unit to secure 48 charges.

&uot;It should go without saying that we are happy over the success of this operation,&uot; Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe said. &uot;It’s obvious that the City-County Drug Unit works well together.

&uot;However, in this operation, it was proven to our citizens that we also work extremely well with state law enforcement agencies,&uot; he continued. &uot;We thank everyone involved in this operation, from ALE to the local officers. Together we were able to make a big impact on those who think they can operate outside the law.&uot;

The Sheriff said three of those arrested are still in custody at the Hertford County Jail while a fourth is on the lam.

Anthony Tirrell Bishop of 128 NC 461 in Winton is being sought on two felony counts and two misdemeanors. Sgt. Will Liverman of the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) stopped the car Bishop was a passenger at U.S. 13 and the Modlin Road Friday at 10:40 p.m.

The suspect ran from officers and escaped. Once apprehended, he will be charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, simple possession of marijuana and resist, obstruct and delay.

The HCSO has warrants for Bishop’s arrest.

Three others remain in the Hertford County Jail due to their arrests during the operation.

Stacey Remond Vaughan, 27, of 311 East Memorial Drive in Ahoskie is under a $50,000 secured bond. He is charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine.

The Sheriff indicated Sgt. Liverman and Deputy Neal Ambrose made the arrest while on patrol at First and Maple streets in Ahoskie. They seized 50 hits of crack cocaine and $195 in United States currency.

Also in the Hertford County Jail is Tony Judge Dickens, 42, of 105 Saunders Park Lane in Ahoskie. He is charged with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia and is under a $5,000 secured bond.

A fugitive from law enforcement agencies in Virginia is awaiting extradition from Hertford County following his arrest last weekend.

Langston Earl Hall Jr., 41, of 3912 Overland Heights Apartment D in Greensboro, was charged with possession of cocaine during the operation. He was also apprehended due to a fugitive warrant.

Sheriff Vaughan said Hall was wanted in Virginia for drug charges. That outstanding warrant dates back to 2001.

&uot;Again, we are thankful for the help of ALE, the Ahoskie Police Department and the Murfreesboro Police Department,&uot; Vaughan insisted. &uot;This is what a combined effort will do for you.

&uot;I would like to especially commend Lt. Raymond Eure of the City-County Drug Unit and Brandon Lanier of ALE for heading up this operation,&uot; he continued. &uot;Together we will continue our efforts to stop the sale of drugs in Hertford County.&uot;

Lanier added that he felt like, &uot;This was a great team effort.&uot;

In addition to those arrested, there were 12 people cited for open containers of alcohol, one for Driving While Impaired, one for giving fictitious information to a law enforcement officer, four were charged with Driving While License Revoked, one for underage possession of alcohol and one for giving alcohol to someone underage.

Other charges included seven speeding violations, two seat belt violations, two charged with No Operator’s License, two for consuming alcohol on/off premises, one for improper equipment, one for unsafe movement and one for expired inspection.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh said the work of the City-County Drug Unit was helping all of the counties citizens.

&uot;We’re extremely happy that the City-County Drug Unit is operational and is enjoying much success,&uot; Fitzhugh insisted. &uot;What is even more pleasing is the fact that these arrests are being made without further incident.&uot;

Fitzhugh added, &uot;Each agency – the police departments in Ahoskie and Murfreesboro and the Sheriff’s Office – is working together towards a common goal: that of ridding Hertford County of illegal drugs. The Drug Unit is making a positive impact on the citizens of Ahoskie, Murfreesboro and Hertford County.

(Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Editor Cal Bryant contributed to this story.)