Ten arrested when police raid Madison home

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

According to information from Sgt. Noel Houze Jr., public information officer for the Indiana State Police, a search warrant on a Madison residence resulted in multiple arrests.

Last Thursday, July 26, in the early morning hours a search warrant was served at the Melton residence located at 5323 N. SR 7 north of Madison in Jefferson County. The residence had been under surveillance for several weeks after officers received information of possible drug activity going on there.

Arrested in the raid was the owner of the residence, William J. “Red Dog” Melton Sr., 45. He faces charges of Dealing in Cocaine (over 3 grams), a Class A Felony; Possession of Cocaine (over 3 grams) a Class C Felony; Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Class D Felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class D Felony; and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class A Infraction.

Also arrested were:
• Robert Crosson, 35, of Madison, who is charged with Dealing in Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Paraphernalia.
• William J. Melton Jr., 20, of Madison, who is charged with Resisting Law Enforcement (fleeing), Minor Consuming Alcoholic Beverages, and Visiting a Common Nuisance.
• Jesslyn Powell, 25, of Hanover, who is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Visiting a Common Nuisance.
• Jeff Melton, 42, of Madison, who is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. Police note that he was located in an outbuilding on the property where they also found a methamphetamine lab.
• Holly Lemm, 24, Anna Hord, 20, Madison, Sherra Tolliver, 31, Milton, KY, Shane Melton, 19, Madison, and Casey Jones, 19, Madison, are all facing charges of Visiting a Common Nuisance.

From the raid, police recovered over 10 grams of crack cocaine and numerous articles of paraphernalia, indicating a drug dealing operation was in place. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called in to disassemble the methamphetamine lab. All ten people arrested are being held in the Jefferson County Jail in Madison.

The Indiana State Police are being assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. The investigation is continuing.