Rutherford County officials arrest several suspects on drug charges

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC (FOX Carolina) – The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office has arrested several suspects on drug charges after officers said they were involved in an altercation with one of the suspects.

Officials report that on September 17, they conducted surveillance at an apartment on Elms Drive in Forest City, North Carolina, after receiving drug complaints from residents.

Duane Cooper was observed in his yard giving Katie Ann Porter and Jerrald Martin an apparent sedative in a black sock, officials said.

Officers reported stopping Porter and Martin on Newton Cole Road and found Porter with 13 grams of marijuana and Martin with 33 grams of methamphetamine, 13 dosage units of clonazepam and 3 dosage units of oxycodone in a black sock. Martin said he bought the narcotics from Cooper, officers said.

Officers say Cooper was abusive and aggressive when they arrived at his home, attempted to hit them, and grabbed an officer by the neck during a scuffle.

After being handcuffed, Cooper sold the rest of his narcotics to Martin, officials said. Officials also said three firearms were found in the home.

Deputies report that drugs were found on two other people in the house:

• Erike Goode – Methamphetamine in a loaded syringe
• Ashley Keeter – four bags of fentanyl, one Suboxone, marijuana and drug paraphernalia

Cooper is accused of:

• Trafficking in methamphetamine through possession
• Trafficking in methamphetamine by delivery
• Maintain your apartment
• PWIMSD sch II,
• PWIMSD sch IV
• Possession of a firearm by a felon
• Attack on a police officer
• resist, hinder and delay

Porter is accused of:

Martin is accused of:

• Methamphetamine trafficking
• Possession with intent to sell and deliver, Sch IV
• Possession with the intention of sale and delivery sch II

Goode is accused of:

• Possession of methamphetamine

Keeter is accused of:

• Possession with the intention of sale and delivery sch II
• own sch IV
• own sch VI
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

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