CENTRALIA, IL — Centralia police made multiple drug arrests over the weekend following an operation that started back in February targeting street-level drug trafficking in the area. According to Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson, on April 18, Centralia Police Investigation Division set up two separate buy/bust transactions.

Around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, investigators completed a prearranged drug transaction to purchase methamphetamine from 25-year-old Katlynn Hoffman, of Centralia and 41-year-old Robert Starr, of Irvington,
At the prearranged time and place on West Seventh Street in Centralia, Hoffman and Star reportedly delivered 2.1 grams of methamphetamine. Shortly after making the delivery officers made a traffic stop of the vehicle the two were driving and took both into custody. A search of the vehicle resulted in another 3.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine as well as evidence tying Star to a prior burglary the department had been investigating. Both subjects were transported to the Clinton County Jail on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and Starr was additionally charged with possession of stolen property.

Then just before 8 p.m., investigators set up a second buy/bust for suspected heroin/fentanyl in the 300 block of North Poplar Street utilizing a confidential informant. At the prearranged time and place, three subjects arrived on scene and 27-year-old Brandi Pierce,of Centralia, reportedly made contact with the Confidential Informant and delivered two suspected caplets of Fentanyl. Peirce was immediately taken into custody by officers on scene. Pierce was allegedly found in possession of another 43 caplets of suspected Fentanyl. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Jacob White, of Centralia, who arrived with Peirce had an outstanding Clinton County warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody and later transported to the Clinton County Jail. A third female 22-year-old Brinesha Hall, of Centralia, arrived on scene was also arrested after allegedly being found in possession of a syringe loaded with a suspected controlled substance. Hall had recently been involved in a prior buy/bust on February 23, when she was arrested for delivery of suspected Fentanyl. Pierce was transported to the Marion County Jail on charges of delivery and possession of a controlled substance. Hall was given a notice to appear in court on the possession charge.

A buy/bust is a tactic where a confidential informant sets up a drug transaction and immediately after the trafficker makes delivery of the drugs, they are taken into custody by officers staged to make the arrest.