Authorities today credited public assistance in the arrest of a”key player” in a north Brookhaven drug operation.

Following execution of a search warrant at his home around 10:30p.m. Saturday, Cornelius O’Brien Allen, 22, of 1506 Brignall Road,was arrested by members of the Brookhaven Police Department,Southwest Mississippi Interjurisdictional Narcotics Unit, thedistrict attorney’s office and the state attorney general’s office,said John Douglas, BPD officer and deputy commander of SMINU.

O’Brien was charged with sale of crack cocaine, possession ofmore than one ounce of crack cocaine with intent to distribute andpossession of more than one ounce of marijuana with intent todistribute.

Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson said he received two callsSaturday morning about Allen’s alleged drug activity. He thencontacted Douglas, who initiated an “intense” investigation thatresulted in the arrest.

“The public being confident and comfortable enough to call thechief is why this happened,” Douglas said.

Douglas said narcotics agents were aware of some of Allen’salleged associates but not him. Henderson described Allen as a “keyplayer” whose activities spread out from the Brignall area.

Douglas and Henderson credited the team approach.

“It’s not just narcotics agents; it’s the entire policedepartment,” Douglas said.

In executing the search warrant, authorities found more thanfour pounds of marijuana, 120 grams of crack cocaine and anundisclosed amount of cash. Douglas estimated the street value ofthe drugs to be around $17,000.

“That’s a modest figure,” Douglas said. “We figured a low-endstreet value.”

Henderson said the investigation was quick and thorough andDouglas did a “beautiful job” in carrying it out.

“It really came together,” Henderson said. “I’m real pleasedwith the way it happened.”