Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigators arrested a wanted murder suspect and two other people during a drug raid early Wednesday. The arrest of Kyland Rochod Williams, who had been a fugitive for more than a year, was an added bonus for the sheriff’s officers – they did not know he would be in the house that was targeted, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Derreck Booth.
HCSO NEWS RELEASE:
*SIU obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 1500 block of Woodland Way. The HCSO SWAT Team went into the home at approximately 6:30 a.m. Wednesday…and secured the house and its occupants. SWAT handled entry due to the unknown number of occupants and the high potential for firearms inside.
Kyland Rochod Williams, wanted for malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault in a Gainesville
Police Department investigation was in the home. Williams, 18, of Monroe, climbed down the back deck of the house but was immediately apprehended by SWAT Team members. Williams had been staying at the residence.
After SWAT cleared the home, SIU seized the following drugs from inside. The combined street value is
roughly $13,000.
Drugs that we confiscated:
Cocaine – 2 grams
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) vape cartridges – 280
THC wax – 12 ounces
Marijuana – approximately 3.5 pounds
Investigators also confiscated an AK pistol, AR pistol, handgun and approximately $1,000 cash. They arrested Cruz Alejandro Vargas, 18, and Angel Miguel Carrera, 19, in connection with the drugs. Both men lived at the residence and were home during the search.
Vargas is charged with sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of THC oil with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, all felonies.
Carrera is charged with possession of THC oil (felony) and drugs not in original container (misdemeanor).
The suspects were transported to the Hall County Jail where they are being held without bond. Additional arrests and charges are possible.
In addition to SIU and SWAT, the HCSO Warrant Service Unit and members of the Uniform Patrol Division
assisted in Wednesday’s search.”
A spokesman for Gainesville Police said Thursday afternoon he did not know at this time whether the others arrested by the sheriff’s office would be charged with harboring a fugitive, etc., adding that the investigation was ongoing.
(Pictured: Some of the drugs and weapons seized during the raid.)
(For a story posted earlier Thursday on Williams’ capture, check elsewhere on this site.)