TARBORO — The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Drug Task Force hit the streets in full force this week when they arrested 22 suspected drug dealers in the county who allegedly sold to undercover officers.

Operation "Back to school" got under way Tuesday when deputies and detectives began picking up the dealers. During the operation, the task force executed three search warrants on houses the sheriff's office said were nuisances in the county and found evidence inside each that the suspects were selling drugs.

The first search warrant was executed at 813 Hart's Chapel Road, where deputies found 10 bags on individual packaged marijuana for sale.

Deputies arrested and charged three suspected dealers from that residence. Arrested were Lashawn Jones, 20, charged with selling marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce. He was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond. Demetric Jones, 23, was charged with selling marijuana, possession with the intent to sell or deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling. He was jailed under a $100,000 secured bond.

The third suspect arrested at the house was Montrairs Jones, 27, who was charged with possession with the intent to sell or deliver marijuana and conspire to sell and deliver marijuana. His bond was $50,000 secured.

The second residence was at 5270 Temperance Hall Road. While searching this residence, deputies found 64 grams of marijuana, 11 oxycodone pills, two rifles, a marijuana smoking device, rolling papers and a one hitter marijuana pipe. They also confiscated $1,000 in U.S. currency, two cell phones, digital scales, marijuana grinder and sandwich bags.

Deputies arrested William Earl Holland, 61, and charged him with two counts of possession of firearm by a felon, trafficking opiates, two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, conspire to sell or deliver schedule II, sell marijuana and maintaining a dwelling. Holland, a convicted sex offender, was jailed under a $170,000 secured bond.

Deputies are looking for Kevin O’Neal, 41, of 6529 NC 581 S, Spring Hope, because he is involved in the case with Holland and has outstanding drug charges against him.

The third residence the task force executed a search warrant at was 327 Faith Baptist Church Road in Pinetops. While searching the residence, detectives found a stolen flat screen television and two sets of digital scales.

Deputies arrested Markieta Davis, 27, and charged her with two counts of selling cocaine, two counts of possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of felony possession of cocaine, maintain a dwelling and conspire to sell cocaine. She was placed in jail under a $300,000 secured bond.

The second individual arrested after the search was, Jermiah Everette, 25, of 7A Hilltop Mobile Home Park, Pinetops, and charged him with trafficking opiates. He was jailed under a $100,000 secured bond.

While deputies were getting ready to leave the scene, two suspected dealers drove up and were taken into custody and charged with drug crimes.

The first suspect arrested was Terrance Davis, 22, of 311 S. A. Gilliam St., Pinetops, and charged him with selling marijuana and possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana. He was jailed under a $25,000 secured bond.

Also arrested was Darrin Williams, 27, of 206 E. Burnette St., Pinetops, who was charged with two counts of selling cocaine, two counts of possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of felony possession of cocaine, sell marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possess marijuana up to a half-ounce. He was jailed under a $220,000 secured bond.

Detectives are still looking for Treyllan Hinton, 20, of 327 Faith Baptist Church Road, Pinetops, in connection with the sale of drugs from the undercover campaign.

Also, the following people were arrested during the campaign and charged with drug charges:

• Johnathan Ellis, 24, of 7895 US 64 Alt. W, Tarboro, was charged with two counts of conspire to sell and deliver marijuana, selling marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce. He was jailed under a $150,000 secured bond.

• Jessie Cherry, 18, of 7895 US 64 Alt. W, Tarboro, was charged with sell marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce. He was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond.

• Ezekias Tillery, 25, of 58 Falls Lane, Tarboro, was charged with selling cocaine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine and maintaining a vehicle. He was jailed under a $110,000 secured bond.

• Harry Tillery, 39, of 212 Summer Acres Road, Tarboro, was charged with selling cocaine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine and maintaining a vehicle. He was jailed under a $200,000 secured bond.

• Shenell Mercer, 43, of 1310-C Elm St. Tarboro, was charged with maintaining a vehicle and conspiring to sell and deliver cocaine.

• Kenneth Moore, 36, of 382 Summer Acres Road, Tarboro, was charged with two counts of probation violation, obtaining property by false pretense, financial card fraud and assault on a female. He was jailed under a $33,000 secured bond.

• Brittany Brown, 22, of 5899 Strickland Road, Bailey, was charged with two counts of conspire to traffic opiates. She was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond.

• Nigel Harper, 19, of Brookshire Lane, Pinetops, was charged with sell marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce, two counts of trafficking opiates, maintaining a dwelling, sell schedule II, possession with the intent to sell and deliver schedule II and possession of schedule II. He was jailed under a $300,000 secured bond.

• Jermaine Smith, 29, of 4284 Anchor Court, Battleboro, was charged with selling cocaine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, maintain vehicle and felony possession of cocaine. He was jailed under a $75,000 secured bond.

• Eric Pittman, 28, of 1000 Wave Lane, Battleboro, was charged with sell cocaine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine and sell marijuana. He was jailed under a $75,000 secured bond.

• Derrick Pittman, 29, of 1000 Wave Lane, Battleboro, was charged with two counts of selling cocaine, two counts of possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of felony possession of cocaine, selling marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce. He was jailed under a $300,000 secured bond.

• Dynasty Brown, 20, of 1022 Stokes St., Rocky Mount, was charged with selling cocaine, possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine. He was jailed under a $35,000 secured bond.

• Coy Nobles, 66, 631 E. Hudson St., Rocky Mount, was charged with two counts of trafficking opiates, maintaining a dwelling and manufacturing marijuana. He was jailed under a $150,000 secured bond.

• Rosa Jenkins Cobb, 56, 700 Chestnut St., Tarboro, was charged with two counts of trafficking opiates and maintaining a dwelling. She was jailed under a $10,000 secured bond.

Sheriff Knight said more arrest are pending as undercover buys continue to be made throughout Edgecombe County.

"The task force takes pride in making quality cases that gets results in court and will continue to do so," Knight said. "These arrest are a result of help from the communities that these drug dealers live in.”

Sheriff Knight said he would like to thank the citizens who helped make cases against the suspected dealers.