Authorities conduct early morning drug raid in Mayes County

Friday, July 29th 2005, 8:59 am

By: News On 6

Weeks of investigation and a combined law enforcement effort put a suspected drug dealer behind bars. A Mayes County man was arrested with meth, marijuana and more. While the result may sound routine, the methods are anything but.

Law enforcement officers get their gear, make a plan and then storm the door not knowing what's on the other side. It happened about 9 miles northeast of Pryor. News on 6 was there exclusively, for a firsthand look at raiding a suspected drug house. News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin explains.

Cherokee Nation Marshall Sgt Danny Tanner: â€œwe just want in and out and get the job done without anyone getting injured." News on 6 photojournalist Jake Shannon had a front row seat to the dawn raid and was there when the smoke cleared and two suspects came out quietly. Sgt Danny Tanner: "everything went down according to plan." But it doesn't always happen that way. "Things can always change, you try to set up the best laid plans that you can on the information that you have."

Before tactical teams break down the door, it takes weeks of undercover surveillance and intelligence gathering. Despite that, when Cherokee Nation Marshals are called in they never know exactly what to expect. Cherokee Nation Marshall Captain Jim Redcorn: "some of the fears are people having firearms, people being armed, people having surveillance like this residence had."

Investigator Shannon Buhl: "if there are chemicals in the house that can be explosive, corrosive, if there's dogs in the house." Sgt Danny Tanner: "There could be any bad guy hiding around any corner or in any vehicle." Despite the danger, they go in with confidence.

Captain Jim Redcorn: "we know what the other guy's thinking, we know what we're gonna do, you know that this guy's gonna do his job to cover his side so you don't have to worry about that." Shannon Buhl: "Just clearing each room, each piece of the room, make sure there's no bodies in there, make sure there's nobody with a weapon in there and get one house cleared and move on to the next."

At the end of this day, officers say the team took a career criminal off the streets. 45-year old William McElroy was arrested after the raid uncovered drugs, packaging paraphernalia, cash, weapons and stolen merchandise. Sgt Danny Tanner: "It was a good day, no one was hurt and we found everybody we came to find."

Authorities say the woman arrested at the home was later released. Investigators say with any operation, whether the find is large or small, it's vital to have the cooperation of several agencies to have proper manpower and equipment.