Twenty three people have been arrested on 48 drug charges as part of an ongoing investigation by the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.

Many of these are said to have been drug dealers.

As part of an 11-month investigation, the arrests represent a significant portion of 55 indictments issued by the sheriff’s department, charging individuals with the distribution of substances such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, crack and ecstasy, said Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas.

“We’re just trying to clean up some of the drugs coming into the county,” Thomas said.

The Sheriff said the arrests could bring on a positive domino effect on the crime rate, as well.

“Statistics show that 85 percent of crimes are drug related,” he said. “This should help to reduce other criminal activity associated with drugs such as burglary, theft, forgery and other related offenses.”

The crackdown has involved a coalition of several law enforcement agencies including the Pike County Sheriffs Department, the Pike County District Attorney’s Office, the Troy Police Department, the Brundidge Police Department and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department.

“I greatly appreciate the cooperation we received from all these agencies,” Thomas said. “These arrests should help to significantly reduce the flow of drugs into our communities. We are working hard every day to keep our county safe and drug-free.”

The Sheriff said the investigation will continue and more arrests should be forthcoming.

The following are the 23 arrested and their respective charges:

Derek Marler, 29, Elba, unlawful distribution of crystal meth;

Jennifer Smith, 21, Troy, unlawful distribution of marijuana x 4;

Kimberly Chrysson, 37, Troy, distribution of exstacy x 2 and crystal meth;

Johnny Tolbert, 25, Troy, unlawful distribution of marijuana;

Alexander Rodgers, 22, Troy, unlawful distribution of marijuana x 4;

Austin Metcalf, 31, Troy, distribution of marijuana x 2 and cocaine x 2;

Christopher Wheeler, 40, Troy, distribution of cocaine x 3;

Stephen Grissette, 18, Troy; unlawful distribution of marijuana x 2;

Brittany Corkins, 21, Troy, unlawful distribution of marijuana;

Adrian Cardwell, 34, Troy, unlawful distribution of marijuana;

Reginal Toney, 22, Troy, unlawful distribution of marijuana;

John Roberts, 20, Jack, unlawful distribution of crystal meth;

Judy Ann Miller, 53, Troy, possession of marijuana first degree and possession of dihydrocodeinone;

Adrian Davis, 23, Brundidge, distribution of cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and possession of marijuana first degree;

Joey Moultry, 24, Mathews, distribution of marijuana x 3;

Kyle Berg, 22, Troy, distribution of marijuana x 2;

Antonio Howard, 30, Troy, distribution of marijuana x 3;

Daniel Ebarb, 20, Troy, distribution of marijuana x 2;

David Carlisle, 23, Troy; distribution of marjiana x 2;

Jessalyn Gilliland, 20, Troy, distribution of marijuana;

Taylor Wimberley, 23, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla, distribution of marijuana x 2;

Phillip Powell, 25, Ozark, distribution of marijuana;

Matthew Powell, 22, Ozark, distribution of marijuana.

Thomas said these individuals will appear in court starting March 29.