Human Trafficking Investigation Leads To Drug Arrests In DeKalb County

Dekalb County law enforcement agents arrested a Geraldine man on a human trafficking charge which later led to drug charges as well.

Arrested, according to Dekalb County Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson, was Rex Tidmore, 59, who was charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking and trafficking in any illegal drug, manufacturing of controlled substance in the first degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Edmondson, the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, received information on a human trafficking case of a minor. DeKalb County investigators, deputies, Drug and Major Crimes Unit and the DA’s investigators started an investigation involving this information and worked throughout the night and into the next day.

During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office obtained the warrant on Tidmore for conspiracy to commit human trafficking. Investigators also executed a search of his residence on Dekalb County Road 333 in Geraldine. During the execution of the search warrant they found roughly 120 plants and roughly 50 pounds of marijuana.

A second search warrant for a residence at the 3100 block of Highway 75 in Fyffe stemmed off the first search, Edmondson said. At this residence, agents found approximately 40 marijuana plants. Also, during the seizure of the residence approximately $45,000 was seized.

During the investigation of this case, another investigation was opened of child abuse, where DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lea Meri Hearn, 31 of Geraldine and charged Hearn with abuse of child torture/willful. Hearn and Tidmore were transported to the DeKalb County Detention center, according to the press release from Deputy Edmondson

Because the case is still open, no further information can be given at this time, Edmondson said.

Chief Deputy Edmondson says “the Drug and Major Crimes Unit, District Attorney’s office Investigators, Geraldine Police, Deputies, and DeKalb County Investigators has worked this case hand and hand and has put in long hours on this case and I would like to thank everyone for working so diligently together on this case.”

MARIJUANA IS SEIZED. Pictured is some of the marijuana seized as the result of a recent investigation in Geraldine, Ala.

CASH SEIZED IN GERALDINE. Dekalb County law enforcement agents seized some $45,000 in cash along with a significant amount of marijuana in Geraldine recently. Pictured is the cash that was seized.

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