Maiden residents arrested in drug bust

December 22, 2011

Three Maiden residents were recently arrested in a five-county drug bust in which law-enforcement agencies targeted nearly 100 people.

Rufus Durand "Chico" Lynch Jr., 27; Natasha Lane Wilhelm, 30; and Wendy Lou Wood, 27, all of Maiden, were arrested as part of a "16 Days of Christmas" operation, according to The Charlotte Observer.

Police departments in Newton, Conover and Maiden, and the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, are involved in the ongoing investigation, as well as law enforcement agencies in Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Rockingham counties.

Police said warrants were obtained on 87 people for more than 325 charges, and 60 of 99 wanted suspects have been arrested.