Court: Police nab more than $130K worth of cocaine at Grand Reserve

The Columbus Police Department’s Special Operations Unit was following leads from a two-month-long investigation when they found more than $133,000 worth of cocaine, as well as drug paraphernalia and cash, Saturday afternoon at the Grand Reserve apartment complex, according to testimony Monday morning in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Phenix City residents Reginald Davis, 43, Brenton Jones, 31, and Dexter Jones, 54, were arrested after allegedly attempting to flee the scene at 1700 Fountain Court. They pleaded not guilty to trafficking cocaine, possession of a drug-related objects and possession of marijuana.

Agents announced themselves before entering Apt. 3809 of the Grand Reserve of Columbus around 2:29 p.m. Saturday to execute a search warrant. Once inside, officers allegedly found the three co-defendants attempting to jump from the balcony three stories above the ground but arrested them before they could flee.

Officials said they continued to search the apartment, where they located 2.9 pounds of liquid, powder and crack cocaine with a street value of $133,040, and less than a gram of marijuana. They also found approximately $22,727 worth of cash, most of which was on the table while the remaining portion was in each of the co-defendant’s pockets, police said.

“Inside of the apartment, there was what appeared to be a cocaine-cooking operation going on,” a police officer said. “There were pots and pans, bowls, packaging material, cutting agents, razor blades and all of the items normally associated with a large narcotics trafficking.”

According to police, Brenton Jones, who identified himself as Dexter Jones’ nephew, told authorities that he has been at the residence several times. He said that there has been drug activity there every time he’s visited, but he’s not responsible for any of it, an official testified.

Dexter Jones, who admitted to abusing crack cocaine, told them he isn’t related to Jones and the other suspects were already at the home when he arrived, according to police. He said he went there to watch a game and “sample” some of the cocaine, police testified.

Authorities said Davis admitted to selling cocaine and added that he was at the apartment to purchase four ounces of cocaine from an individual who wasn’t on the scene at the time. He said he was waiting for that person to arrive and the only thing he came to the residence with was the money in his pocket, but authorities said he is one of the primary targets in their ongoing investigation.

None of the co-defendants testified in court.

Judge Michael Cielinski denied them bond on the trafficking charge but granted $1,000 bonds on each of their remaining charges.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Court: Police nab more than $130K worth of cocaine at Grand Reserve."