LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC - Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested a 47-year-old West Columbia man who had been wanted for nearly two months on an arrest warrant on a charge of second-offense distribution of crack cocaine. Officers with the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) obtained the arrest warrant for the 47-year-old man after they conducted a five-month undercover investigation concerning the sale of crack cocaine at a home at 3728 Colony Park Lane near West Columbia.

Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said deputies arrested Frank Alexander Jones, 47, of 4057 Charleston Highway, West Columbia, on the arrest warrant on a charge of second-offense distribution of crack cocaine. Jones formerly lived at the home at 3728 Colony Park Lane.

Jones was being held on Wednesday, August 29 at the Lexington County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond, Metts said.

Dixiana Resident Deputy Shannon Dykes saw Jones walking in the middle of Gillins Terrace Road near West Columbia at about 2:44 p.m. on Friday, August 24, while Dykes conducted a directed patrol in the area, Metts said. Dykes recognized Jones as a man who was wanted by the Sheriff’s Department. Dykes stopped his patrol car, placed Jones in investigative detention and later arrested Jones.

In July, NET officers arrested 14 persons on drug charges, including distribution of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and attempted possession of crack cocaine as a result of conducting the undercover investigation, Metts said.

NET officers initiated the undercover investigation after receiving numerous complaints about drug dealing at the Colony Park Lane home, Metts said. During the course of the investigation, officers saw as many as 30 motor vehicles in one hour drive up to the home in order to buy crack cocaine at the residence.

The case remains under investigation, Metts said. The sheriff said officers might arrest additional persons in connection with the undercover investigation of drug dealing at the Colony Park Lane home.

Metts asked anyone with information about illegal drug activity in Lexington County to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site (www.lexingtonsheriff.com).

NET is comprised of officers from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, Irmo Police Department and Lexington Police Department, Metts said. The sheriff and municipal police chiefs implemented NET in 2001 in order to enhance drug enforcement in Lexington County. ED IN UNDERCOVER DRUG INVESTIGATION

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