Two men arrested on drug trafficking charges
A narcotics complaint at a Seneca area motel over the weekend led to the arrests of two Seneca man on multiple narcotics charges, including charges of Drug Trafficking.
61 year old James Richard Byerly and 56 year old Timothy James Hird, both of Tamarack Drive, were booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 9:47am and 12:05pm Saturday respectively.
Byerly has been charged with one count each of Trafficking in Cocaine, Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime.
Hird has been charged with one count each of Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana and Trafficking in Methamphetamine, along with three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone, Clonazepam and Hydrocodone).
Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to the Days Inn location on N. Radio Station Road around 4:39am this past Saturday and made contact with Byerly, who provided consent for the deputies to enter the room that he was renting. Byerly also provided deputies with consent to search the room as well. Hird was also located by deputies inside of the hotel room.
Deputies located a quantity of narcotics inside of the room. Deputies then notified Narcotics Agents, who arrived on the scene and executed a search warrant that was obtained. Additional quantities of narcotics were discovered.
According to Narcotics Agents, approximately 302.6 grams of Methamphetamine, 47.4 grams of Cocaine and 15.5 grams of Marijuana were seized. A firearm was also seized as well.
Byerly and Hird was arrested and transported to the Oconee County Detention Center. Both subjects remain in custody at this time.
Byerly received a combined $105,615.00 surety bond while Hird received a combined $166,000 surety bond. Both Byerly and Hird will have to wear electronic monitoring devices, as a condition of bond, should they be released.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation.