A month long drug investigation in Marion County culminated yesterday with the arrest of five people, three who were charged with felony drug offenses relating to the sale and possession of methamphetamine. The arrests followed a short pursuit involving two of the suspects in Flippin and the serving of a search warrant at a residence in Bull Shoals.

   

Flippin Police Chief Dusty Smith, Bull Shoals Police Chief Dan Sutterfield, and Marion County Sheriff Roger Vickers released a joint statement verifying that 26-year-old Cody Stradford, of Mountain Home, was charged with six felony offenses. Charges included two counts of delivery of methamphetamine, delivery of a schedule two controlled substance (oxycodone), unlawful use of a communications device, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of firearms by certain persons and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to deliver. His bond was set at $45,000.

   

Also arrested was 34-year-old Nicholas Garbinsky of Bull Shoals, charged with felony offenses of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by certain persons along with a misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia. Garbinsky also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant from the Mountain Home Police Department for failure to appear. His bond was set at $15,000.

 

The month long, investigation saw the arrest of 21-year-old Chantel Branam of Mountain Home. She was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. She also had an outstanding warrant from the Lakeview Police Department.

   

Two Batesville residents were also charged with misdemeanor offenses in the same investigation. Forty-one-year-old Heidi Giberson was cited for fleeing and illegal window tint with 18-year-old Zach Giberson cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

The Marion County law enforcement officers said officers from all three departments had conducted a series of methamphetamine buys from Cody Stradford and yesterday officers located him traveling in a vehicle in Flippin that was driven by Heidi Gilberson. The officers said officers from the Flippin Police and Marion County deputies attempted to stop the vehicle. A short pursuit ensued before arrests were made.