Three controlled buys were made from Reginald Lamont “Deucey” Epps, the last within 48 hours of an application for a warrant to search his residence at 142 Straight Road.

The search warrant applied for by Lieutenant Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office last Thursday does not go into any details of the shootout that occurred between Epps and two officers the following morning. Epps died in the shootout.

The search warrant merely shows narcotics agents were looking for evidence of drug sales, gambling and loan sharking.

(This is the list of items seized from 142 Straight Road, listed in the order they appear on the search warrant: 200 gram weight, 100 gram weight, two bags of marijuana, skull grinder, black digital scale, 1.5 Job rolling papers, Ziploc bag of marijuana, plastic bag corners, loose plastic bags, Ziploc bag with cigar guts, two boxes of plastic bags, bulletproof vest, green box with bullets, Ziploc baggies, cellphone box with plastic bags, two bags of marijuana, loose marijuana, white scales, glass jar with marijuana, cell phone.)

The list of evidence to be seized included controlled substances of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, prescription drugs and any other controlled substances.

It also sought permission for officers to seize paraphernalia and personal papers that would establish documentation of drug sales.

The search warrant sought seizure of firearms and a litany of other evidence that would tie Epps, 38, to the drug trade.

While the search warrant did not elaborate, it also sought the seizure of evidence tying Epps to gambling, counterfeiting and running a loan shark business.

The sheriff’s office, according to the warrant, intended to charge Epps with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance and the possession or sale of drug paraphernalia.

The search gave officers permission to search Epps or any other person on the premises or coming to the premises as well as all vehicles within the property and parcel lines.

The search warrant was based on an investigation stemming from community complaints, confidential sources, intelligence and undercover officer casework, the search warrant says.

“Within the last quarter the affiant came to open an investigation focusing on Reginald Lamont Epps,” Martin wrote in the search warrant application. “Reports were received that Reginald Lamont Epps was selling marijuana from Straight Road.”

Within the last quarter, the warrant says, Martin conducted three controlled buys from 142 Straight Road. The buys were conducted under Martin’s supervision using undercover officers. “Marijuana was purchased each time, the most recent activity within the last 48 hours.”

Based on training and experience, Martin wrote, “The target and target suspects pose a threat to the community. This has been deducted via the aforementioned investigation.

“There were multiple drug sales occurring at the listed target address and based on the affiant’s training and experience, narcotics sales are often associated with crimes of violence and weapons. Based on the totality of the investigation, along with controlled purchases within the last 48 hours, the affiant requests entry is made into target structure without delay.”