VALDOSTA, GA (WTXL) - Police are working to identify several people in Valdosta they say surrounded officers in an attempt to stop them from making a drug arrest on Monday.
According to the Valdosta Police Department, officers were monitoring the Ora Lee West Housing Complex through the city wide camera system when they saw a drug deal.
Officers made contact with one of the suspects, Willie Roberts, and proceeded to arrest him.
Police then went to search the vehicle they said was used in the deal when a K-9 officer detected drugs inside the car. Officers also said they saw paraphernalia in plain view.
Police said that is when a woman ran up to the officers, saying it was her car and they were not allowed to go inside. She tried to close the door of the car when another man, later identified as DeAnthony Motes, ran up to the other side of the vehicle, said police.
Motes allegedly grabbed a large bag of marijuana from the car and threw it underneath, where officers said they could not reach it. According to police, another person took the marijuana and ran from the scene.
While they were arresting Motes, police said he was resisting and became combative.
Police said then, 15-20 people surrounded the officers; some of which started pushing on the door to keep officers from arresting Motes.
More officers were called out and four people were arrested in addition to Roberts and Motes.
Police Chief Brian Childress released a statement regarding the incident. "The police department has received numerous complaints over the past several months of illegal drug sales in the area of Troup Street and East Jane Street. This incident confirms information which the department received," said Childress. "We will not tolerate this nonsense going on in our city and everyone who interfered with the officers will be arrested."
The department said they are still investigating and are working to identify the other individuals involved.
A seventh arrest was made Tuesday morning after police identified Anthony Eady from video recording of the incident.
Police said Eady charged at one of the officers during the investigation. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor obstruction.
The charges for those originally arrested are as follows:
DeAnthony Motes: Possession of Marijuana w/Intent to Distribute (FELONY), Possession of Tools for the Commission of Crime (FELONY), Possession of Marijuana w/Intent to Distribute within 1000 feet of a Housing Project (FELONY, Tampering with Evidence (FELONY), Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
Willie Roberts: Possession of Marijuana (Misdemeanor)
Devon Adams: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
Porsche Scott: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
Michael Green: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
Kenyatta Johnson: Obstruction of an Officer (Misdemeanor)
