18 people taken into custody in Gaston County heroin bust

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By Ken Lemon

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Eighteen people were taken into custody in Gaston County for selling heroin.

The Operation Dirty Needle bust was part of a 2-year investigation by the Gaston County Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, State Bureau of Investigation and the Dallas Police Department.

Police arrested:

  • Andrew Junior Lane
  • Robert Lee Hearn
  • Gabriel Robinson
  • Phillip Nathanial Kos
  • Stephanie Ann Kos
  • Richard Arnold Steen
  • James Franklin Farris
  • Karen Darlene Horne Slagle
  • Emily Jacqueline Jenkins
  • Gary Payne
  • Samuel Hargett
  • Timothy Larkin Landers
  • James Anthony Royall

[ MUGSHOTS: Operation Dirty Needle arrests ]

Police are still looking for three others in connection to the drug bust, Crystal Dawn Murphy, Shelby Diane Putnam and Cody Bumgardner.

Two other people, Gregory Bagwell and Harvey Jenkins, were already in custody.

"A few of them actually deal to fund their habit," Gaston County Detective Jason Isenhour said.

That is what they found at Farris’ home.

Police said he was using heroin when they knocked on the door.

Many users started with prescription drugs and some dealers even believe they are doing a public service.

"I actually had one tell me their clientele, they consider them patients,” Isenhour said. “They are helping their patients."

Royall had no illusions.

He wore a T-shirt proclaiming that he was high and police said he had 10 grams of heroin on him with they arrested him.

They found black tar heroin on Landers too.

"Small doses can be toxic and can lead to death," Capt. Susan Mauney-Smith said.

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