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Dog breeder arrested in drug sweep
3 others also face charges
1 Drug Bust Sanders mug
Sanders

A local dog breeder and businessman was one of four people arrested last week in a multi-agency drug sweep.

Authorities said the operation also uncovered nearly 12 pounds of suspected marijuana, three indoor grow houses and 106 marijuana plants in several counties.

Noah Barrett Sanders, 36, was taken into custody Thursday morning when he arrived home and found officers searching his property on Elliott Family Parkway.

The site is home to Sanders Kennels, which bills itself as a top breeder of American Bulldogs and Presa Canarios.

Sanders was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He was released from the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on Friday after posting an $22,400 bond.

Sanders' home was one of several searched simultaneously by agents as part of a monthlong investigation.

Authorities said the operation began with a tip from a resident in Cherokee County, where two indoor grow facilities were found.

"This shows how busy officers are, not only here but across north Georgia, to try to keep drug dealers off our streets," said Dawson County Sheriff's Capt. Tony Wooten.

A third grow house was found in Hall County.

Agents with the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, worked with officers from Dawson, Hall, Gwinnett and Cherokee counties, as well as Atlanta Police.

In a statement, Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison praised the cooperation.

"We are very pleased with the current results of this ongoing investigation," he said. "It is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when local and state agencies work together to remove illegal drugs from our streets."

Also arrested were Graig Medon, 33 and Madeline Stoddard, both of Gainesville, and Ollie Marchman, 32 of Snellville, according to authorities.

Medon was charged with manufacturing marijuana, while Stoddard was charged with felony marijuana possession.

Marchman was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. They were each released on $11,200 bonds.

This investigation remains ongoing and more arrests are likely.