The Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit (ICE) is comprised of officers from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department, Elkhart Police Department, Goshen Police Department and the Nappanee Police Departments  *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** Date May 23, 2006     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ROUND UP BEGINS MEDIA CONTACT:  Bill Wargo, 296-1888             At 4:00am on May 23rd 42 police officers representing every law enforcement agency in Elkhart County met at the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.  Armed with arrest warrants teams of officers spread out throughout the county and began arresting persons that have been charged with Dealing in Controlled Substances. Over the past several months undercover operatives of ICE have been making purchases of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine and marijuana from upwards of 90 persons residing in our County.             While warrants have been obtained on 39 persons, only 13 were targeted for arrest on this date. The warrants for the other 26 suspects will be placed into NCIC and these individuals will be arrested over the next weeks.  Â“The gravity of the drug problem is such that we can snap our fingers and 40 to 50 dopers can get locked up just like that. The reality of the drug problem is that we are out pacing our local criminal justice system’s ability to handle the flow”, said Prosecutor Curtis T. Hill Jr., referring to the current congestion of the jail. “Our plan is to make drug enforcement an assembly line process. Catch em’, try em, and send them to the DOC, but until our local system can handle it all, we will have to regulate the flow”.             The 13 that were chosen were picked based on criteria of their level of trafficking as well as their association in a drug dealing organization.              Since the inception of ICE, just a few months ago, the undercover officers assigned have made purchases from a total of 92 different persons. The cases on the remaining suspects will be filed later this summer.  Â“If someone is dealing in Elkhart County they have a pretty good chance of being locked up some time this summer”.             The following persons were arrested this morning:1.           Roland Williams, age 37, 25704 Modrell, Elkhart. He is charged with Dealing Methamphetamine. His bond is set at $50,000 and he faces up to 20 years in prison.2.           David Hooper, age 31, 933 Middlebury St., Elkhart has been charged with Delivery of Cocaine. His bond is set at $40,000 and he faces up to 50 years in prison. 3.           Shigeko McCarey, age 29, 1013 Bontrager, Elkhart. She is charged with Dealing Cocaine. Her bond is set at $20,000 and she faces up to 50 years in prison.4.           Kevin Conniff, age 44, 55370 CR 23, Bristol. He is charged with two counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine. His bond is set at $250,000. He faces up to 70 years in prison.5.           Darren Dugger, age 34, 326 W. Crawford St., Elkhart. He is charged with Delivery of Amphetamine. His bond is set at $20,000. He faces up to 20 years in prison.6.           Anthony Copus, age 27, 1011 Princeton, Elkhart. He is charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine. His bond is set at $40,000 and he faces up to 50 years in prison.  7.           Tobias Johnson, age 19, Elkhart. He is charged with Delivery of Cocaine. His bond is set at $20,000 and he faces up to 20 years in prison. 8.           LC Jeremy Gary, age 27, 1001 Mason St., Elkhart. He is charged with Delivery of Cocaine. His bond is set at $40,000 and he faces up to 20 years in prison. 9.           Hugo Rodriguez, age 29,., Goshen. He is charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine. His bond is set at $250,000. He faces up to 50 years in prison. While arresting Rodriguez officers seized approximately ½ pound of purported powder cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $20,000. 10.      Nicholas Patton, age 26, 1201 CR 115, Lot #21, Bristol. He is charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine. His bond is set at $20,000 and he faces up to 50 years in prison. Three subjects were not located in this initial sweep; however it is known that they are still in the area and will be picked up shortly.  During the sweep officers encountered another subject that was wanted on an Elkhart City Court warrant for a Probation Violation. Donald Clayborn, age 24, 620 Middlebury St., Elkhart, was booked into the Elkhart City Jail with a bond of $4000.                                                   ***