Richland County Sheriff Clay Porter reports that on 6-26-2022 the Sheriff’s Department received a tip that a vehicle was traveling through Richland County after possibly being involved in drug activity in the village of Readstown. A Deputy of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation. The driver and passenger were subsequently identified as Anthony Bailey and Dajah Swift, respectively, both from the Madison area, and were each found to have a suspended driver’s license. The Richland Center Police Department’s K9 Teddy was deployed and alerted to the presence of an illegal controlled substance. During the subsequent search and investigation, Dajah Swift was found to be in possession of just over an ounce of methamphetamine. Swift was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, while the driver, Bailey, was cited for Operating while Suspended and released. All charges will be forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Sheriff Porter credited the alertness and thoroughness of the Deputy who made the traffic stop, and the law enforcement Officers who assisted in the investigation, for taking a significant amount of a powerful drug off the street.
In addition to the Richland Center Police Department, the Sheriff’s Department was also assisted on-scene by the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, which is a multi-agency combined investigatory unit dedicated to combating local drug distribution. Sheriff Porter stated that it is the cooperation of law enforcement agencies that often makes these types of investigations successful and added that this investigation is a prime example.
Sheriff Porter also commented on the importance of citizen involvement in combating criminal activity and pointed out the fact that it was the tip from the concerned citizen that made this investigation and arrest possible. Sheriff Porter encourages any citizen who suspects criminal activity to notify law enforcement. Citizens may call the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 608-647-2106, the Richland Center Police Department at 608-647-2103, or the Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 608-647-CLUE (2583). Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the P3 app at p3tips.com or by downloading the P3 app.