Three individuals from the Rockledge Community of Etowah County have been arrested and charged with a number of charges including drug trafficking.

According to Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin 41 year old Lori Lei Bodden, 36 year old Carlos Cardona-Herrera, and 22 year old Juan Hernandez-Telle, all of Boaz were arrested last night after Etowah County Drug Enforcement Agents executed a search warrant.

Each is charged with one count of trafficking, which is a felony. Additional charges of distribution are pending for Bodden as well. A three week long investigation led to the arrest at Bodden residence at 1709 Sligo Road in Boaz.

Approximately ¾ of a pound of Crystal Meth with a street value of approximately $40,000, drug paraphernalia, multiple long guns, six vehicles, one boat and several computers were seized from the residence.

While executing the warrant it was additionally discovered that there was also a large scale tax fraud operation being ran out of the home as well.

The individuals were creating false sales contracts for non-existing houses in order to abuse the first time homebuyer’s tax credit.

More than $200,000 in claims have been processed and Investigators with the Internal Revenue Service have been contacted and now working the case.

Sheriff Entrekin said that this will a case which will take quiet some time to sort out and additional charges and possible arrest are pending.

Etowah County Drug Bust

The mishap occurred near the 272 mile marker of highway 9, according to Alabama State Troopers the accident involved a 1998 Chevrolet being driven by Cedar Bluff resident Keri Johnson and a 2000 Freightliner driven by Johnny Smith of a Myrna, Tennessee address.

Both drivers escaped injury in the mishap however, Johnson’s vehicle suffered significant damage.

Alabama State Troopers are investigating the exact cause.

Sgt. Alfred Rigstad and Reserve Deputy Cole McAnelly were dispatched to the scene to assist. Mentone Fire Department responded to remove the trees from the roadway.

Sgt. Rigstad and Reserve Deputy McAnelly arrived and pulled next to one of the trees crossing the roadway. While still in the vehicle, the deputies heard a loud cracking noise.

The driver, Sgt. Rigstad, attempted to move the vehicle but was blocked in by other vehicles. A large tree then fell on the patrol car damaging the hood, front fender, and passenger side.

Neither deputy was injured in the incident. The tree was removed enough to allow both deputies to exit the vehicle. The deputies then assisted in clearing the trees from the roadway.

Among those was Cherokee County High School quarterback Coty Blanchard, along with receiver Gabriel Chambers, offensive lineman Daniel Miller, and linebacker Caleb Crane.

Desmond Brown – who was a running back for the Warriors – signed with the University of Clemson as a safety. Coty Blanchard and Gabriel Chambers, both signed with Jacksonville State University. Blanchard’s scholarship is for the dual role of football and baseball meanwhile, Miller and Crane both signed with Shorter College in Rome.

And Cherokee County standout D.J. Fyffe is expected to sign with the University of West Alabama at a later date.

Piedmont High School offensive lineman Seth Reedy, signed with Southern Mississippi after receiving late interest from the University of Tennessee.

Bulldog running back Christian Cantrell signed with Tennessee Tech while Terrick Spear will continue to remain teammates with Tay Holloway, as they both signed with Stillman College.

Chase Childers signed with Birmingham Southern, and Luke Smith will begin his college career at Shorter College in Rome.

Collinsville Senior Justin Irvine signed on Friday with Huntington College in Montgomery.

From left, Daniel Miller (Shorter), Caleb Crane (Shorter), Coty Blanchard (JSU), Gabriel Chambers (JSU) and Desmond Brown (Clemson). Standing from left are Brian Johnson, Doug Davis and Tripp Curry.