Frenitra Akins and Phillip Lamar Holland, co-defendants arrested and charged with five drug-related offenses following the execution of a search warrant by the Griffin Police Department, appeared this week for a preliminary hearing.

Sgt. Gene Mathews, of the GPD’s Career Offender Burglary Robbery Apprehension unit, said after officers made their initial entry into the residence at 1015-A W. Solomon St., four individuals present were secured on the front porch before officers began to search the home.

“In the second room, there was marijuana found in a small white container, cocaine residue was found inside a cigar box on top of a dresser and Lortab was located in a clear Dixie-type cup on top of a dresser,” Mathews said. “Throughout the rest of the search, we located various other drug-related items.”

He went on to testify that the marijuana — which tested positive — totaled 14.9 gross grams, and was individually bagged in a white chewing gum-type container with a lid.

When Vernon Smith, Akins’ defense attorney, asked who was named in the search warrant, Mathews stated that Corey Willis and “a black male known only as Buck, who was later identified as Mr. Holland,” were the only individuals named in the warrant, but that the search warrant contained a clause for all people present at the time of its execution.

Smith then asked Mathews if Akins had provided a statement regarding her presence in the home and he responded that she claimed she didn’t live there and was only visiting.

He then explained that everyone present in the home at the time of the search warrant had been placed under arrest because no one made an initial claim to the drugs.

“Sgt. Curtis Keys came inside during the search warrant and said Mr. Holland was out there trying to get someone to claim the drugs. I told him (Holland) what had been heard and I told him I didn’t buy it,” Mathews said.

He testified that Akins was not initially cooperative with officers.

“I think we had to tell her four or five times to get on the floor,” he said.

Smith questioned whether his client was in the room where the drugs were recovered and Mathews said, “No.”

However, upon cross-examination by Joyce Bussey, Holland’s defense attorney, Mathews said that defendant was present in the bedroom where all the drugs were recovered.

“In fact, Mr. Holland said he was taking a nap,” he said. “Mr. Holland was standing at the foot of the bed. We had to put him on the bed to secure him. In fact, I pushed him down on the bed as I entered the bedroom.”

Bussey then pointed out that a third person arrested, a Mr. Lovett, had finally claimed possession of the drugs, but Mathews reiterated that Lovett’s statement was made only at the urging of Holland.

After closing arguments were made, Spalding County Chief Magistrate Judge Rita Cavanaugh dismissed all charges against Akins for lack of probable cause, and bound Holland over to stand trial on all five charges brought including possession of Lortab, drugs not in original container, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine.