Four arrested in 2 DeKalb County meth busts

Thursday, July 14, 2011

photo Steven Ray Willingham, 31, of Dawson, Karen Annette Gray, 44, of Dawson. Kelly Garrison, 23, of Sylvania, and Howard Anthony Bryant, 26, of Fort Payne.

DeKalb County, Ala., authorities arrested four people on methamphetamine-related charges Wednesday, according to Sheriff Jimmy Harris.

Steven Ray Willingham, 31, of the Dawson community, was served with four felony warrants for distribution of illegal drugs, in addition to charges of unlawful possession of controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia after methamphetamine was found in his home, authorities said.

On Wednesday, DeKalb County Drug Task Force agents teamed up with the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force to search Willingham's residence on Alabama Highway 68, where they already had made undercover drug purchases.

Karen Annette Gray, 44, was at the home during Willingham's arrest and was charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

In an unrelated incident, DeKalb authorities made arrests late Wednesday night to conclude a month-long investigation into drug activity at a home on Burnt Church Road in Sylvania.

Kelly Garrison, 23, of Sylvania, and Howard Anthony Bryant, 26, of Fort Payne, each were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia after meth and related materials were found in the home.

Agents also discovered a small child at the residence and notified authorities who are investigating the child's circumstances.