Three of four people arrested in a recent Weldon undercover drug operation were involved in other high profile cases.

Calvin, left, and Robert Champion.

Those arrested for allegedly selling cocaine in the South Weldon area are Robert Champion, 29, and his brother, Calvin, 25, Michael "Mike Mike" Ponton Jr., 20, and Jessie Arrington.

Chief Mark Macon said the arrests were the result of undercover operations over an undisclosed time period and he said more arrests are pending.

One of those arrested in the operation, Ponton, was served his warrant in the Halifax County Jail.

Ponton faces a charge of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and sell and deliver cocaine.

Ponton had been on the run since March 28 when allegedly fired shots at his cousin but turned himself in late last month.

Ponton declined to say where he had been hiding since an ongoing feud between family members resulted in the attempted shooting in the Scoco Park community of Weldon. He would only say he was tired of running, Weldon police said then.

Captain James Avens said in March Ponton fired at least three shots at his cousin, Luther Terry, and fled.

Terry was not injured. Ponton faces charges of attempted murder and going armed to the terror of the people. He was jailed on $1 million bond.

The March shooting stems from a shooting in December in which Ponton and Alphonso “Tyson” Williams, 22, were charged with attempted first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, shooting in an occupied vehicle, assault by pointing a gun and going armed to the terror of the people.

That shooting occurred at 209 Ransome Circle, a house the Weldon Police Department and state Alcohol Law Enforcement are trying to shut down through nuisance abatement laws.

Williams and Ponton, who are brothers, and Terry, a first cousin of the pair, are frequenters at the house, which has been targeted for drug sales and is known in the Scoco Park community as the Community House and by police as Weldon Police Department Substation South.

In the December shooting, there was an argument over money between the cousins and Williams allegedly fired two shots at Terry, one bullet striking him in the arm and going through his chest, Avens said then. Terry was released from the hospital.

Meanwhile, Robert Champion, of Weldon, faces one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and two counts of sell and deliver cocaine. He was jailed on $5,000 bond.

His brother, Calvin, of Roanoke Rapids, faces charges of three counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and 6 counts of sell and deliver cocaine. He was jailed on $50,000 bond.

The brothers were charged by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department in January with multiple drug offenses.

In a raid based on an investigation in October where some 30 pit bulls were found, many with battle scars and other wounds, officers seized 70 grams of crack cocaine, a signal to agents, the Champions have allegedly been dealing in trafficking amounts, Captain Andy Jackson said at the time.

They seized $1,600 in cash, two guns, ammo and digital scales.

The brothers were arrested without incient.

There was no signs of dogs there and it is believed Calvin Champion got rid of the dogs he was supposed to look after following his October arrest, Jackson said.

The county took several dogs as evidence along with puppies and sick dogs.

It appears drug activity continued at the house following Champion’s initial release from jail in October and any more charges against him could result in the beginning of nuisance abatement proceedings, Jackson said. “We will be persistent in our pursuit for justice.”

The brothers face charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, maintaining a dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges filed resulted from the earlier narcotics investigation in the Brandy Creek community which led to a dog fighting probe.

Narcotics Agent Jamie Hardy said then it was clear some of the dogs were used in fighting because paraphernalia such as penicillin, iodine and rehydration systems were found at the scene.

One puppy was found dead on top of a kennel and one mother was trying to chew through a chain link fence to get to her pups, he said. One dog’s ear was ripped and was just beginning to heal.

Hardy said it was unclear whether dog fights were occurring in the backyard but it was clear there was traffic, judging from the discovery of leftover plastic baggies, an indication people were smoking marijuana while watching or training the dogs.

Calvin Champion was charged with three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and four felony counts reflecting that he allegedly maliciously allowed the dogs to fight, which caused severe injuries.

Arrington was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and two counts of sell and deliver cocaine. He was jailed on $15,000 bond.