Surveillance of Bulldog Inn leads to arrest of alleged drug trafficker

By Joe Johnson

Police surveillance of a high crime location recently paid off with the arrest of an alleged drug trafficker.

An officer with the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force reported that on the afternoon of April 3 surveillance of the Bulldog Inn on Commerce Road was conducted because of its reputation as “a high crime, drug, and prostitution area within the community.”

The report noted that a high volume of suspicious activity was observed at one of the motels’s rooms, where numerous people were seen coming and going.

One man in particular who caught the attention of police, identified as Octavius Sarden, was seen leaving the room with a backpack which he placed in a car parked outside.

When Sarden later left the room and got into that car with two women, the driver was recognized as someone who had a provisional DUI license that was valid only for driving to work and school.

A traffic stop on the car was initiated on the basis the driver was violating her license provisions, and before the car came to a stop its occupants were seen making furtive movements consistent with them trying to conceal items.

After the passengers were ordered out of the vehicle, one of them confessed to hiding drugs in her vagina.

Kaylin Howard told police that Sarden had threatened to harm her as if she didn’t hide them there.

Female officers took the woman to a discreet location at the scene where they oversaw her retrieval of plastic bags containing morphine pills and fentanyl.

Drugs retrieved from the car included 62 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 2 grams of fentanyl, and morphine pills.

Drug paraphernalia included glass pipes and a digital scale.

Sarden, 38, of Garnet Ridge Drive was arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of drug-related objects.

Howard, 23, of Westchester Drive was charged with possession of fentanyl.

Kaylin Iliana Howard

Octavius Orlando Sarden

Darden and Howard were both taken to the hospital before going to jail because they faked medical emergencies, according to police.

Jail records indicate that Sarden had been further charged with simple assault and obstruction, but the police report didn’t explain those offenses.

Sarden was additionally charged with a parole violation, and the Banks County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold order his release.