COURTLAND
On Wednesday, deputies with the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Franklin area men on heroin related charges. This information comes from Lt. Camden Cobb, a spokesman for the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators were able to observe a suspected drug deal take place in the Sycamore Church Road area, and initiated a traffic stop on one of the suspect’s vehicles. Multiple baggies and folds of heroin were recovered at that time. The driver of that vehicle, Clarence Alexander, 47, and the passenger, Dennis Ricks, 59, were both arrested for possession of schedule I/II narcotics.

The continuing investigation led deputies to execute a search warrant in the 25000 block of Mount Horeb Road later in the day. During the search, materials used to package heroin were recovered, as well as two firearms, several boxes of ammunition and $459 in cash.

Deputies were then able to place Shannon Jeffres, 55, into custody for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

Alexander and Ricks are both being held at the Southampton County Jail with a $3,000 bond. They were scheduled to appear in Southampton General District Court on Thursday.

Jeffres is being held at the Southampton County Jail with no bond. He is scheduled to appear today in Southampton General District Court.