Gang Member Arrested In Paulding County: Sheriff

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — A known gang member was arrested in Paulding County last week after undercover officers saw him in a store, watched him participate in a drug deal, refuse to comply with deputies during a traffic stop and attempt to destroy a bag of suspected methamphetamine.

Agents from the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force (HPDTF), which is overseen by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, were working undercover on Oct. 5 when they noticed Robert Lewis Anderson — a self-proclaimed high-ranking member of the Latin King gang — in a store within the city of Dallas.

Anderson was a wanted felon out of Haralson County, so HPDTF agents followed him and another party as they drove to a location within Dallas "that is known to sell illegal narcotics," according to a Tuesday news release. Agents "observed a hand to hand transaction between Anderson and another party," and informed Paulding County Sheriff's deputies.

Paulding deputies attempted to pull him over in a felony traffic stop, but Anderson — who had a Blue Alert on his criminal history, which means he had repeated violent tendencies toward law enforcement — did not comply with the officers' demands. He attempted to destroy a bag of suspected meth while he was being told to get out of the car.

Anderson was eventually taken into custody and charged with six offenses:

• Obstruction (misdemeanor)
• Possession of methamphetamine (felony)
• Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (felony)
• Tampering with evidence (felony)
• Probation violation (Haralson County)
• Parole violation

Anyone who has information about the case or any other drug case in Paulding County is asked to call the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force at 770-646-9175 or send an anonymous tip via the free Paulding Sheriff mobile app.