12 suspects arrested in early-morning drug roundup in southern Indiana

CORYDON, Ind. (WDRB) -- Twelve suspects are in custody after a drug roundup early Friday morning in southern Indiana.

The Harrison County Sheriff's Department said all 12 are facing felony charges, mostly connected to dealing heroin and meth. Arrest warrants are out for 13 more suspects.

“Over the last year, the sheriff's department has been making controlled purchases using their undercover detectives," said Harrison County Prosecutor Otto Schalk. "Employing confidential informants, all of that came to fruition today."

Sheriff Rod Seelye said the illegal drug business fuels other crime in the community.

"If you walk through our jail and you took a poll, 80-90 percent of the people in our jail have some kind of drug issue," Seelye said. "They may not be in jail for drugs, but they were doing something, committing some crime because of drugs or to get drugs."

This is the sixth time Seelye has conducted a roundup of suspected drug dealers. He said they have led to more than 120 arrests, with a near 100 percent conviction rate.

“To drug dealers, who are thinking about opening up shop in our county, you may want to think again,” he said.

Seelye said, so far, the suspects have been arrested without incident.