Published: April 17, 2009 02:45 pm      

Three Alto-area residents arrested, face drug charges

Special to the Progress

On Thursday the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Division secured a search warrant for a residence on FM 1911, south of Alto in the Barsola community.

The search warrant was a result of an extensive investigation conducted by members of the sheriffs department narcotics division and led to the arrest of three Alto residents and the seizing of substantial amounts of substances believed to be marijuana and methamphetamine along with U.S. currency and firearms.

About 12:35 a.m. members of the sheriff’s department SWAT team executed the search warrant on the residence where they found Francis Diane Martin, 56, Lloyd Frank Garcia, 53, and Bertha Ruffin Postma, 52, inside.

All suspects were immediately apprehended without incident and a subsequent search of the residence turned up narcotics and contraband.

The search warrant affidavit was taken before County Court at Law Judge Craig Fletcher on Wednesday and after reviewing all documents a search warrant was issued.

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Judge Brenda Dominy arraigned all suspects on Thursday.

Martin was charged with five seperate counts — state jail felony manufacture or delivery controlled substance penalty group 1; felony 2 manufacture or delivery controlled substance penalty group 1; felony 3 possession of substance penalty group 1; class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana; and felony 3 unlawful possession of a firearm. Bonds totaled $112,000.

Garcia was also charged with five seperate counts — two counts of state jail felony manufacture or delivery controlled substance penalty group 1; felony 2 manufacture or delivery controlled substance penalty group 1; felony 3 possession of substance penalty group 1; and class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana. His bonds totaled $97,000.

Postma was charged with one count of state jail felony possession of substance penalty group I.