October 22, 2015

Throughout the night on October 21, 21015, as most of Waynesboro slept, a group of Waynesboro Police DETECTIVES, Patrol Officers, Reserve Officers and members of the SWAT and Special Operations Unit came together to deliver multiple blows to the drug trade in Waynesboro. As a result of multi-tier drug investigation, police served search warrants at six separate residences beginning at 9:45 PM and ending around 4:00 AM. The combined raids yielded crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, marijuana, US currency, multiple weapons and the arrest of two city men. A third is at large.
Police began the night with simultaneous SWAT raids at 400 Smith Street and 1019 Albemarle Avenue #2. Both of these suspects had recently made news for two different reasons.
Previously, Kelvin Jaray Sease was charged with PWID cocaine after police made the largest crack cocaine seizure in history on April 13, 2015 at the Waynesboro Quality Inn. Sease was out on bond for the April offense when he arrested again last night.
Last night, Sease was taken into custody after the search warrant was served at his girlfriend’s residence. Police recovered a small amount of cocaine, digital scales, cooking pots with crack cocaine residue, an ounce and a half of marijuana and $1007 cash. The SWAT team had to conduct a breach of the front door and subdue two very aggressive pit bulls in the process of serving warrant, and one of the pit bulls was Tasered.
Sease, 26 years old, faces two felonies, Possession of Cocaine and PWID Marijuana. He is being held without bond.
Meanwhile, at 1019 Albemarle Avenue #2, a second SWAT Team breached the front door after the residents would not answer. This residence recently made news when last night’s target, Larry Wayne White, 24 years old, was the victim of an armed robbery home invasion on September 18, 2015 in which over $1000 and an unknown amount of drugs was stolen. Last night, police recovered a pound of marijuana and $890 cash from the residence. Warrants have been obtained for White for PWID marijuana.
Police then conducted another two simultaneous warrants, this time at 177 North Elkins Avenue and 229 South Winchester Avenue. The intended target on North Elkins Avenue was not at the residence and a small amount of marijuana was recovered from the occupant. No arrests were made but misdemeanor charges will be placed once lab results are returned.
Meanwhile, at 229 South Winchester Avenue, the SWAT Team discovered quite a formidable arsenal in addition to an ounce of crack cocaine and $1,431 in cash. One particular weapon was an extremely high dollar assault rifle known as the FN SCAR in .308 caliber, the “Ferrari of tactical rifles,” a rifle which retails for over $3000. Also recovered were a Smith and Wesson .308 caliber semi-auto rifle and a Glock .45 pistol with two 27-round magazines.
The target of that search warrant, Sylvester Anthony Wells, 34 years old, faces PWID Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm while in Possession of a Schedule I or II drug. He is free on a personal recognizance bond.
Finding weapons of this caliber and capacity only underlines just how dangerous the drug trade is becoming. Drug dealers are setting up shop in our neighborhoods and are readying themselves for war against law enforcement and other drug dealers.
When these two warrants were completed, police finally conducted two additional raids at 360 North Winchester Avenue #4 and 351 Port Republic Road. No contraband was found on Port Republic Road, and no charges were placed. Approximately one half ounce of marijuana was recovered from the North Winchester Avenue address. Charges are pending lab results for a suspect at that residence.
Captain Michael Martin of the Department’s Special Operations Division, which spearheaded the operation, says “When it comes to narcotics search warrants, we are always glad when they are successful and we get dealers, guns and drugs off the streets. But we don’t always measure our success solely by how many drugs are seized. Even when warrants are executed and nothing is found, the act of dynamically serving a warrant and taking the drug fight into the homes that sponsor it tends to send a clear message to dealers…. that there is no safe place to conduct business. The intent is to constantly keep them on the run and to significantly disrupt their operations.”

”The job isn’t done,” says Police Chief Mike Wilhelm, “Our officers will continue to serve search warrants and make arrests throughout today and into tonight until all of the subjects are rounded up. And next week, we’ll be right back at it again!”
Anyone with information as to White’s whereabouts is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department (540)942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at (800)322-2017.