Published: July 15, 2008 09:07 pm      

Suspect arrested in McDowell County drug case

WELCH — Police seized drugs, guns, cash and more from a McDowell County residence following a task force investigation, officials said Tuesday.

Robert Keith Goodman, 56, of Berwind, was arrested and charged with transporting controlled substances in the state, possession with intent to deliver scheduled II controlled substances and conspiracy to violate the drugs laws of West Virginia, Mark Shelton, chief deputy of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, said.

Shelton said the sheriff’s department and members of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in Berwind, and seized several guns, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a four-wheeler, two vehicles, and 244 OxyContin pills.

Shelton said officials believe OxyContin was being transported from out-of-state into McDowell County and the Berwind community.

“They had a pretty good-sized organization going,” Shelton said. “More arrests are pending.”

Shelton said Goodman was arraigned late Monday evening before Magistrate Pete Beavers, who set bond at $50,000. Goodman was still being held Tuesday at the McDowell County Holding Facility in lieu of bond.

Shelton said the arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation by the sheriff’s department and the task force.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com