HARALSON COUNTY — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that 11 suspects were arrested in recent weeks as drug agents were able to seize several kilograms of methamphetamine and marijuana, drugs and cash.

A multi-agency effort that included searches in LaGrange, Temple and Buchanan ended with the arrests and seizures after agents conducted search warrants in November and charged more than half of those taken into custody locally.

Daniel Lee Provo, 39; Clarissa Carla King, 44; Oakley John Evans, 41; David Bell, 67; Michael Bryan Reynolds, 59; Joseph Todd Youngblood, 46, all from Haralson County addresses, were booked on drug trafficking charges.

Additionally, Matthew Wilson Strickland, age 44, and Natasha Brazil, age 38, both of Troup County; Deanna Marie Bunner, age 45, of Carroll County; Candace Dawn Awbrey, age 27, of Heard County and Donald Wayne Massey, age 34, of Cleburne County, Alabama, all also face drug trafficking charges.

Per the GBI release, the joint investigation involving the GBI’s West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, the Haralson County Sheriffs Office, the Troup County Sheriffs Office and the DEA’s Birmingham District Office Task Force began in September with a look by the West Metro agents began looking into the activities of Provo.

“Through the investigation, agents identified members of a drug trafficking organization
living in Haralson, Carroll, Heard, and Troup counties in Georgia and Cleburne County, Alabama,” the release stated. “On November 9, 2023, agents executed an operation that involved search warrants at Provo’s home in Temple, GA, King’s home in Buchanan, GA, and Strickland’s home in Lagrange, GA.”

Those searches ultimately turned up around four kilograms of meth, two pounds of marijuana, six firearms and around $14,000 in cash according to the GBI.

Provo, Awbrey, Reynolds, King, Evans, Massey, Bunner, and Bell were booked into the Haralson County Jail and several faces charges of trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Bell was booked into custody on previous outstanding warrants.

Provo also faces felony firearms charges.

Youngblood was booked into the Cleburne County, Alabama Jail and faces a charge of conspiracy to purchase methamphetamine. Strickland and Brazil were booked into the Troup County Jail and they face drug charges as well. Strickland is also being held on firearms felonies.

“Multiple agencies conducted this investigation to make an impact on the current street level drug distribution within Haralson, Carroll, Heard, and Troup counties in Georgia and Cleburne County, Alabama, and promote a safer place for productive citizens,” the release noted. “Once the investigation is completed, the case file will be given to the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office for prosecution. Anyone with information about this investigation may contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office at (770) 830-1375. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1(800) 597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online.”

Here’s the full release from the GBI:

Haralson County, GA (December 4, 2023) – The GBI has arrested and charged eleven people following a joint drug investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office, Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, Troup County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA Birmingham District Office Task Force Group 42, and 7^th Judicial Circuit Major Crimes Unit.  

11 Arrested:  

• Daniel Lee Provo, age 39, of Haralson County, charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. 
• Clarissa Carla King, age 44, of Haralson County, charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. 
• Oakley John Evans, age 41, of Haralson County, charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. 
• David Bell, age 67, of Haralson County, was arrested on previous outstanding warrants. 
• Michael Bryan Reynolds, age 59, of Haralson County, charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. 
• Joseph Todd Youngblood, age 46, of Haralson County, charged with conspiracy to purchase methamphetamine. 
• Matthew Wilson Strickland, age 44, of Troup County, charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and four counts of possession of a firearm by convicted felon. 
• Natasha Brazil, age 38, of Troup County, charged with possession of methamphetamine. 
• Deanna Marie Bunner, age 45, of Carroll County, charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. 
• Candace Dawn Awbrey, age 27, of Heard County, charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 
• Donald Wayne Massey, age 34, of Cleburne County, Alabama, charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. 

In September of 2023, the West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office began investigating Daniel Provo. Through the investigation, agents identified members of a drug trafficking organization living in Haralson, Carroll, Heard, and Troup counties in Georgia and Cleburne County, Alabama. On November 9, 2023, agents executed an operation that involved search warrants at Provo’s home in Temple, GA, King’s home in Buchanan, GA, and Strickland’s home in Lagrange, GA. Police made several arrests outside of the search warrants as a part of the investigation.  

During the operation, agents seized around 4 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, 2 pounds of suspected marijuana, 6 firearms, and around $14,000. 

Provo, Awbrey, Reynolds, King, Evans, Massey, Bunner, and Bell were booked into the Haralson County Jail. Youngblood was booked into the Cleburne County, Alabama Jail. Strickland and Brazil were booked into the Troup County Jail.   

Multiple agencies conducted this investigation to make an impact on the current street level drug distribution within Haralson, Carroll, Heard, and Troup counties in Georgia and Cleburne County, Alabama, and promote a safer place for productive citizens.  

Once the investigation is completed, the case file will be given to the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office for prosecution. Anyone with information about this investigation may contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office at (770) 830-1375. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1(800) 597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.