Franklin County Drug Task Force aids Marion in trafficking arrest

Joshua Clint McCarley, 34, of Hodges

It was a joint operation that led to the arrest of a Hodges/Marion County man on trafficking charges Jan. 6.

Joshua Clint McCarley, 34, of Hodges, was charged with trafficking following an undercover investigation that began in Franklin County. Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the Franklin County Drug Task Force, including officers from the FCSO as well as the Russellville Police Department, participated in the joint effort with Marion County and other agencies, including the Marion County SWAT team and the Hamilton Police Department.

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Investigation at Joshua Clint McCarley’s Hodges, Marion County residence resulted in the seizure of 19 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, or ICE, $8K in cash, varied drug paraphernalia and a firearm.

“We followed through with information that led to that arrest,” said Oliver. He said cooperation among agencies was crucial in this arrest. “It helps a lot when we all work together.”

Marion Sheriff Kevin Williams said the arrest took place about 8:30 p.m. Friday night at McCarley’s residence in Hodges, just across the Franklin County line. After executing a search warrant, investigators were on scene nearly four hours and recovered significant quantities of crystal methamphetamine, or ICE, from McCarley’s possession – 19 ounces, or $19K street value.

Investigators also seized about $8K in cash, varied drug paraphernalia and a firearm.

Like Oliver, Williams pointed to the cooperation among the departments as key.

“When you share information and work together, good things can happen like this. We’re all pleased to get this amount of drugs off the streets of Marion and Franklin counties,” Williams said.

McCarley is in the Marion County Jail on a $1,500,000 bond. Williams said the district court judge in Marion sets a high bond on these types of crimes “trying to set an example” and show “we won’t tolerate this anymore.”