More Than 50 Charged In City Drug Raid

FRANKLIN, Ind. -- Johnson County authorities served felony drug warrants on more than 25 people Friday after a year-long investigation conducted by the Franklin Police Department.

As of Friday evening, 27 of 52 warrants had been served on individuals ranging in age from 14 to 58 years old, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

Police started their investigation by looking for people who had been known to buy drugs in the area.

"Undercover Franklin police officers identified individuals who possessed information about the drug trade in the Franklin area, many of whom had been arrested for minor drug charges," Prosecutor Brad Cooper said.

The prosecutor said he negotiated agreements with the informants in exchange for information that led to drug suppliers.

Then undercover officers conducted controlled buys with dealers selling everything from marijuana and prescription pills to cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, recording the transactions.

"In court, (having the video and audio recordings) makes my job extremely easy," Cooper said. "When you can play a video that shows the drug dealer dealing the drugs, it makes prosecuting a case not a difficult task."

Police said Friday's arrests will also help cut other crime in the community.

"People will steal a stereo out of a car because they need money to purchase drugs," said Lt. Jim Hoeing of the Franklin Police Department. "So if you eliminate the people who are dealing, you eliminate other crimes as well."