According to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver deputies, Sheriff’s Office investigators and Alabama State Troopers conducted a saturation initiative and setup multiple checkpoints in the Spring Garden, Rock Run, and Ellisville areas, Friday (April 15th), during which officers issued numerous traffic citations and arrested a total of seven suspects.  

The first arrest took place on County Road 126 after a 41 year old Piedmont resident, James David Haynes attempted to avoid a checkpoint leading officers on a brief chase

Haynes was quickly taken into custody and charged with attempting to elude and operating a vehicle without a driver’s license.  

At another checkpoint an attempt was made by a suspect to elude on County Roads 14 and 33 with officers apprehending 38 year old Torrey LaShawn Hutchins of Rockmart, Georgia. 

Investigators recovered a significant amount of illegal drugs leading to an arrest on charges of trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, first degree possession of marijuana, tampering with physical evidence and with attempting to elude as well as several other traffic violations.   

Other arrests included 49 year old James Scott Canter, and Heidi Rebecca Waddell, 28, both of Piedmont for two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, second degree possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.   

Hutchins, Canter, and Waddell remain in the Cherokee County Detention Center where they await setting of bond. 

Sheriff Shaver stated that he greatly appreciates all the hard work and efforts by deputies, investigators, and troopers to make our county safer.