Detectives with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) concluded a month-long investigation into narcotics distribution on California Drive near Cleveland on Tuesday. 

During the investigation, investigators allegedly purchased fentanyl from Donnavan Sherrill and Lontee Pressley at an undisclosed address on California Drive. 

With the assistance of the Salisbury Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office SIU executed a search warrant at the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators reportedly located numerous narcotics, drug paraphernalia, firearms and even a missing dog.

While conducting the search warrant, investigators were approached by an unnamed citizen who reportedly advised that they had tracked their missing dog to the location of the search warrant. Investigators were able to locate the missing dog inside the home and return the pet to their owner. 

The following individuals were arrested during the search warrant and charged:  

1. Donnavan Sherrill: 

• Possession with intent to sell/deliver schedule I: x2 
• Possession with intent to sell/deliver schedule II 
• Conspire to sell/deliver schedule II 
• Maintaining a dwelling: x3 
• Possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana 
• Possession drug paraphernalia 

Sherrill was issued a $250,000 bond.

2. Lontee Pressley: 

• Possession with intent to sell/deliver schedule II 
• Conspire to sell/deliver schedule II 

Pressley was issued a $150,000 bond.

3. Shyanne Panter: 

• Felony possession of a firearm 

Panter was issued a $50,000 bond. 

4. Sara Childress: 

• Possession of drug paraphernalia 
• Possession of schedule IV 

Childress was issued a $1,000 bond. 

“California Drive is in the western portion of Rowan County off Joe Rankin Road near many of our prominent family farms and dairy operations,” Sheriff Travis Allen said in a press release. “California Drive has been a problem area in western Rowan County for many years. This drug raid is the first of many steps the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office will be taking to possibly have these addresses listed as a public nuisance and seized by authorities. The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office will not let these drug houses continue to operate unchecked in our rural communities. This raid should serve as a message to others who think they can operate drug houses in our rural communities.

“I as sheriff have recently re-directed our narcotics investigators to focus more attention on our local drug houses instead of federal task force cases. These men are excellent investigators and with this renewed focus the citizens of Rowan County will benefit by the sheriff’s office shutting down these houses across the county. Federal cases are good and fine, but our main focus should be on the houses and offenders that live next door.”