COLERAIN – The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office has made a pair of drug-related arrests in the Colerain area recently.

Both arrests were attributed to information received from citizens in the vicinity who provided information to the sheriff’s office.

Det. Sgt. Kenny Gilliam used the information and began surveillance in the area last month. After several days, Gilliam obtained a search warrant for the residence of Santee Antion Boone, 36, of N.C. 42 in Colerain.

The warrant was served late in the day on April 27 with officers from the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office as well as Probation and Parole.

Within minutes of the search, cocaine was discovered in the residence along with a shotgun, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Boone was arrested and charged with possession of with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was placed in the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail under a $200,000 secured bond.

“This was a great arrest,” Det. Sgt. Gilliam said. “Anytime you can remove drugs from the streets, it is a positive, but it’s even more important when you take weapons out of the hands of drug dealers.

“It is a great feeling to the officers and to the neighborhood,” he added.

The second arrest came just three days ago when, again acting on complaints from the neighborhood, Det. Sgt. Gilliam began surveillance.

After watching the area, he obtained a search warrant for the residence of Thomas Jermaine Valentine of Pioneer Avenue in Colerain.

The Narcotics Unit, sheriff’s deputies and Probation and Parole again went to the home in the late hours. After securing the residence, Detective Blake Mizelle served the warrant.

After conducting the search, officers located cocaine that was ready for sale in plain view.

Valentine was then taken into custody and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a place to keep, store and sell a controlled substance.

He was placed in the Bertie- Martin Regional Jail under a $60,000 secured bond.

“The Narcotics Office would like to thank the brave citizens for taking a stand and reporting the drug activity,” Det. Sgt. Gilliam said. “You can rest assured that when we get complaints on locations that are suspected drug location in Bertie County, the Sheriff’s Office will act and clean up those locations.”

Bertie County Sheriff John Holley said working together made a difference.

“When we can work together, we can make a difference in our communities,” he said.

Those wishing to report any illegal activity can call 794-5330.