A Union City, Ga., man was arrested earlier this month on multiple drug charges and use of an unmanned aircraft, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release last week.
Santonio Knighton, 27, was arrested October 15 on Blalock Avenue in Ware County, after being observed operating a drone at a residence suspected of illegal activity, authorities said.
Knighton was charged with possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine, trafficking in each illegal substance as well as felony intentional use of an unmanned aircraft.
Knighton remains in the Ware County Jail after having bond denied. Additional charges are possible in the active and ongoing investigation, authorities said.
The arrest resulted in the recovery of half a pound of fentanyl, about one pound of methamphetamine, around five pounds of marijuana, 30 pounds of tobacco, 14 cell phones, and other items deemed contraband in jails and prisons, the release said.
Drones often are used to drop drugs and other contraband into open outside spaces at jail and prison complexes.
The drugs and other items were uncovered when authorities conducted a search of Knighton’s vehicle and temporary lodgings.
The October 15 search resulted from WCSO Detectives acting upon information about a location in the 3800 block of Blalock Avenue, which indicated the site was to be used for illegal activity.
Det. Sgt. James Cox, Det. Savannah Leslie, Det. Kyle Strickland, Ware County Patrol Deputies, a Georgia State Patrol trooper, and Georgia Department of Correction K9 officers traveled to the Blalock Avenue location.
While at the location, Detectives observed a man, who was later identified as Knighton, arrive and begin operation of a drone.
An order was given to detain Knighton, and he was later arrested without incident.
A search warrant for Knighton’s rental vehicle and his temporary lodgings on Blalock Avenue was obtained.
Once the search warrant was obtained by Det. Strickland, a detailed search of the man’s vehicle and premises was conducted.
Ware County Sheriff Carl James thanked the other agencies for their assistance and commended his personnel including Cpl. Daniel Guest and Deputies Wayne Thrift Jr., and Ethan Arnold.
