OPD shuts down suspected drug house

Olney Police shut down a suspected drug house on Oct. 20 and arrested the 57-year-old tenant on charges of possession and manufacturing of drugs, and are monitoring several dwellings with similar activity throughout the city, Police Chief Dan Birbeck said.

“There is a lot of criminal activity coming and going from that location. The Police Department is currently monitoring different locations throughout the city that are believed to be engaging in narcotics trafficking,” he said. “It’s just a matter of due course. Their time will come.”

OPD officers arrested Adriene Yvonne Atkinson, alias “Black Mama,” at her rented home at 305 S. Ave. F in Olney, after receiving information from a Young County probation officer that Atkinson may have violated the terms of her probation, Chief Birbeck said. The probation officer discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia upon entering the house Thursday afternoon and called in police officers for backup, Chief Birbeck said. Officers also found marijuana at the home, he said.

Multiple people were at the residence but only Ms. Atkinson was arrested and charged, he said. Ms. Atkinson was charged with the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana, according to Young County Jail records. She was being held in lieu of $30,500 in bail but was released on bond a day later, jail records show.

Chief Birbeck said city officials are tracking down the owner of the Avenue F home to deliver a warning about the illegal activity that allegedly was taking place there. “I’m tracking down the owner to serve notice that this activity is going on and if it happens again I will seize the house,” he said.