Officers from local law enforcement agencies embarked on a round-up yesterday, dubbed “Operation Harvest Time,” to arrest 41 people on drug charges.

By mid-afternoon officers had arrested 25 of the 41 people with warrants out for their arrest. The effort was coordinated by the Surry County Sheriff’s Office and Mount Airy Police Department. Other agencies assisting were the Dobson, Pilot Mountain, and Elkin police departments and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

The operation started close to 6 a.m. Tuesday morning with 40 officers spreading throughout the county to look for the individuals. The warrants issued on the 41 people included 225 separate charges.

Many of the people arrested were not at the drug trafficking level, Sheriff Graham Atkinson explained. He said many of those picked up were the ones that community members have been complaining about.

“The lower levels get the most attention,” said Atkinson.

Officers with Mount Airy and Surry County built up the cases, sometimes over several months, in preparation for the round-up.

The last major drug operation of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office was held near the beginning of the year. It was titled “Operation Year End Clearance,” and officers attempted to arrest 25 people with that round-up. Atkinson said the agencies don’t try to plan out when they’re going to have round-ups each year. They just build cases and then plan to hold an operation when they have enough evidence gathered.

“The hard work comes in beforehand,” said Chief Dale Watson of the Mount Airy Police Department. He commended the narcotics officers and others who made the round-up possible through their investigations.

To any community members who may think officers are ignoring their complaints, Watson said, “We’re not. We just have many complaints. There’s few of us and many of them.”

Atkinson explained, “This is not television. This is real life. You have to build a case. If we can’t convict you, we’re not going to charge you.”

So after months of work, officials decided to name the round-up “Operation Harvest Time.” Atkinson said, “It’s a chance for us to reap some of the rewards for hours and hours of hard work over the last several months.”

In addition to arresting 25 individuals, officers also seized small quantities of marijuana at a few locations. A sawed-off shotgun was discovered at one residence.

“It’s absolutely a success,” said Atkinson of the operation.

Those arrested were:

n Kimberly Dawn Atkins, 22, of 143 Dunaway Lane, Pilot Mountain, charged with manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

n Edward Carroll Bowman, 39, of 154 Damascus Way, Mount Airy, charged with two separate charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule IV controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

n Eligah Paul Bowman, 41, of 426 Worth Street, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and maintaining a drug dwelling.

n Roger Lynn Boyer, 55, of 180 Sweet Lane, Lowgap, charged with two counts trafficking in opium.

n Joshua Ryan Covington, 24, of 2505 Hodges Road, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, two counts conspiracy to sell or deliver cocaine, and two counts maintaining a drug vehicle.

n Daniel Leonard Cox, 31, of 827 Banner Street, Mount Airy, charged with two counts selling or delivering marijuana, two counts possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and two counts maintaining a drug dwelling.

n Marty Lee Draughn, 33, of 137 Cedar Point Drive, Mount Airy, charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, selling and delivering marijuana, and maintaining a drug house.

n Linda Daye George, 32, of 1210 Park Drive, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, and maintaining a drug vehicle.

n Timothy Ray Glass, 43, of 768 Mcbride Road, Mount Airy, charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, maintaining a drug house, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

n Martin Eugene Gorham, 38, of 1421 Fancy Gap Road, Mount Airy, charged with four counts trafficking in opium.

n Dorian Lamar Gwyn, 19, of 122 Square Street, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering marijuana, conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and maintaining a drug vehicle.

n Amanda Dawn Hodges, 20, of 413 Austin Drive, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering marijuana, selling or delivering a counterfeit controlled substance, two counts maintaining a drug dwelling, and conspiracy to sell or deliver cocaine.

n Kenyare Levon King, 19, of 455 Austin Drive, Mount Airy, charged with three counts trafficking in opium, four counts maintaining a drug dwelling, two counts selling or delivering cocaine, two counts possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, and possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance.

n Jonathan Albert Allen Lockhart, 20, of 598 York Road, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana.

n Marshall Bernard Love, 44, of 433 Dan Bryant Road, Pilot Mountain, charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

n Patty Wright Martin, 45, of 143 Dunaway Lane, Pilot Mountain, charged with manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

n Chad Lewis Mitchell, 30, of 1337 Pine Ridge Road, Mount Airy, charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, maintaining a drug vehicle, and possession of marijuana.

n Ryan Sebastian Moore, 28, of 602 Spring Street, Mount Airy, charged with seven counts trafficking in opium, selling near a school zone, selling or delivering a schedule II controlled substance, possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance, maintaining a drug vehicle, and maintaining a drug dwelling.

n Seth Edward Moore, 21, of 1194 Reeves Mill Road, Mount Airy, charged with conspiring to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug house.

n William Joseph Campbell Reed, 31, of 176 Joe Reed Trail, Mount Airy, charged with conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana.

n Adam Wayne Rose, 20, of 745 Hamlin Ford Road, Dobson, charged with selling or delivering cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, selling or delivering marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and conspiracy to sell or deliver cocaine.

n Bradley Matthew Slate, 20, of 1017 Newsome Street, Mount Airy, charged with selling or delivering cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, two counts conspiracy to sell or deliver cocaine, and possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana.

n Cody Dustin Taylor, 21, of 125 Duke Road, Mount Airy, charged with conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana.

n Stephen Columbus Willis, 35, of 308 Spring Street, Mount Airy, charged with two counts selling or delivering marijuana and two counts possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana.

n David Lee Wright, 42, of 403 Dan Bryant Road, Pilot Mountain, charged with manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Those with outstanding warrants for their arrest as of yesterday afternoon were Jimmie Anderson of Lowgap, Randall Wayne Atkins of Pilot Mountain, Edward Corey Bowman of Mount Airy, Kristal Esperance Brown of Pinnacle, Christopher Andrew Burcham of Mount Airy, Christopher Evan Crouse of Mount Airy, Shannon Fultz Dollyhite of Lowgap, Matthew Kegan Easter of Mount Airy, Misty McCann Grit of Elkin, Sarah Elizabeth Lowe of Dobson, Jennifer Nicole Ryan of Mount Airy, Chase Nathon Summer of Mount Airy, Robert Douglas Wehrmeyer of Pilot Mountain, Randy Lee Josey Whitehead of Mount Airy, Keith Clayton Wilson of Mount Airy, and Alfonzo Jothan Wright of Mount Airy.

Officers hope these individuals will turn themselves in. Either way, officers are not giving up the search.

“We’re still actively looking for them,” said Atkinson of the remaining subjects. He said they have good tips on where many of them are located.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.