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COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - A man is now behind bars after a drug-related investigation by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

The sheriff’s office said a long investigation was conducted into a known methamphetamine distribution channel in the Oak Park area of the county, locally known as Sand Ridge.

The investigation led to the arrest of Douglas resident Emmanuel Merritt, 43.

As of Thursday, Nov. 11, he was charged with:

• Possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute
• Possession of methamphetamine
• Possession of firearms during the commission of a felony

If Merritt is convicted, he could face:

• Five to 20 years in prison and fines up to $1 million for distribution-related offenses
• Two to 15 years in prison and fines up to $100,000 for methamphetamine possession
• One to five years in prison for firearms violations

CCSO said the investigation began after officials received numerous complaints from community members about illegal drug activity in the area. Once enough evidence was gathered, a search warrant was issued.

Once the search warrant was executed, members of the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit, the newly formed Drug Interdiction and Criminal Enforcement (D.I.C.E.) Unit, and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID) arrested Merritt.

He was taken to the Coffee County Pre-Trial Detention Center without incident, according to CCSO.

“We’ve had enough with folks bringing this stuff into our community. This stuff destroys lives, breaks families and puts our children at risk. We’re out here making sure folks stay safe, and if you break the law, we will find you and we will lock you up," Sheriff Fred Cole said.

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