Athens Officials Seize Weapons, Drugs Following Investigation

ATHENS, GA- What started as a simple traffic stop by Athens-Clarke County police quickly executed after a discovery of illegal contraband lead to a larger discovery of drugs and weapons at a Athens area home on Wednesday. Three people are now in jail in connection to the discovery.

According to the Athens-Clarke County Police a coordinated investigation by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department’s Gang Unit and the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force has resulted in the seizure of more than a dozen firearms and a large amount of marijuana in addition to thousands of collars in cash.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department reports that on August 5, 2026, investigators with the ACCPD Gang Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Athens. During the stop a search of the vehicle was performed that resulted in the discovery and seizure of a quarter pound of marijuana, a Glock 27 firearm, and $968 in cash. Police took the driver of the vehicle into custody. He has been identified as 25-year-old Siderious Heard of Athens. Heard was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Shortly after the traffic stop investigators with the ACCPD Gang Unit and the Drug Task Force proceeded to home in the 200 block of Sidney Lanier Avenue and executed a search warrant. During the execution of the warrant investigators were able to locate 14 additional firearms, 10.5 pounds of marijuana, and $4,712 in cash. Police say that six of the seized firearms were modified with machine gun conversions devices.

At the residence police were able to take two additional suspects into custody. They have been identified as Joshua Campbell, 23, of Athens and Fredrick Heard, 24, of Athens. Both men were taken into custody and have been charged with numerous counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, trafficking marijuana, and numerous counts of possession of a machine gun.

Through the coordinated efforts police were able to seize a total of 15 firearms, 11 pounds of marijuana, and more than $5,000 in cash. All of the suspects have been transported to the Clarke County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information can contact the ACCPD Drug Tip Line at (706)613-3297.

About the Author

Alton Mitchell

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Alton Mitchell is a career journalist, who currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area. He began his journalistic writing career while attending middle school and continued on through high school earning top honors by becoming his high school newspapers Editor in Chief. During his senior year of high school Mitchell's work received community recognition following an article that helped to save a local elementary school from closure. He would later go on to college where he earned degrees in Political Science and English. Following his graduation from college Mitchell would take on several reporting jobs at smaller publications and worked in roles ranging from a freelance journalist to editorial related roles. His work was recognized and received Press Association Awards in 2021. Writing is a passion and a love for Mitchell and he hopes to enlighten the community he serves through his works with A Mitchell Media LLC.

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