Starke County Sheriff Jack Rosa announced operation Super Bowl Initiative during the week of the Super Bowl.

It also came after the oheriff’s office received several complaints of drug activity in Starke County.

The newly created Strategic Response Team along with detectives went out over the last week to target certain areas in the county to focus on illegal drugs.

During this time, Mark Nevil, a registered sex offender, was taken into custody for outstanding warrants and illegal narcotics located during the incident.

Deputies also conducted several traffic stops that resulted in the recovery of illegal drugs.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office says it received information regarding a house in the county from several residents in reference to an individual dealing illegal narcotics. The individual was identified as Rodney Craft, 51. After conducting surveillance Starke County Sheriff’s Office had enough information to apply for a search warrant.

The search warrant was executed with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office Strategic Response Team, detectives, and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. Craft was later located and taken into custody by members of the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Knox Police Department.

The sheriff’s office notes that the arrest would not have been successful without the community, Knox Police Department, and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office would encourage residents to report crime in their area. Coming soon we will have a phone designated as a hotline to report illegal activity such as illegal narcotics, warrants, and anonymous tips.

Craft's preliminary charges include:

Dealing of Methamphetamine, Felony Level 2

Possession of methamphetamine, Felony Level 3

Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, Felony Level 4

Possession of methamphetamine, Felony Level 6

Possession of a narcotic drug, Felony Level 6

Craft was held on a $29,000 cash bond and $13,000 cash bond.

During the same time charges were filed on another suspected dealer, Dan Ard.

Dealing in methamphetamine, Felony Level 2

Dealing in methamphetamine, Felony Level 4

Possession of methamphetamine, Felony Level 4

Possession of methamphetamine, Felony Level 6

Ard, 33,  was at large at the time of this report. Ard is described as a white male, 5’07” and weighing 170 pounds. Ard has a warrant for his arrest with bond set at $15,000.