Two Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department investigations mergedthis week while authorities were looking into burglary and drugactivity in the southern part of the county.

Acting on a tip from the general public, Lincoln County SheriffLynn Boyte said Thursday that Bryan Dale Avants, 24, of 2465Rolling Meadows, was arrested last Friday in connection with 13Bogue Chitto area and two Pike County burglaries dating back toNovember. Avants remained in jail Thursday under a $75,000bond.

“This thing broke because the general public knew about theproblem, contacted us and wanted to help,” Boyte said.

Authorities said Avants is a suspected operative in a crime ringthat involved trading stolen property for drugs. He is charged withone count each of residential and commercial building burglary inPike County and seven counts of burglary of a dwelling and sixcounts of commercial building burglary in Lincoln County, saidInvestigator Lance Falvey.

“Others are still being sought in connection with thisactivity,” Falvey said.

Byron Brown, the alleged mastermind of the crime ring, remainsat large and has been entered into National Crime InformationComputer. Narcotics Investigator Dustin Bairfield said Brown, of124 Montgomery Road, is wanted on drug, receiving stolen property,racketeering and firearms charges.

While following up on Avants’ arrest, authorities executed asearch warrant at Brown’s home Tuesday.

Authorities recovered washers, dryers, microwaves, tools andother business and household items. Falvey said property owners,some of whom who may not know that they had been robbed, were beingcontacted so the items could be returned.

“Some of the homes were occupied and some of them were notthroughout the Bogue Chitto area,” said Falvey, mentioning that ahunting camp was one of the places burglarized.

Falvey reminded citizens of the importance of writing downserial numbers of televisions, VCRs and other valuable items. Hesaid free forms are available at the sheriff’s department.

“It only takes a few minutes,” Falvey said. “It could be thedifference in making case like this.”

Bairfield said Brown’s home had been under surveillance due tocomplaints about alleged drug activity. While executing Tuesday’ssearch warrant, authorities said two Summit women came to the homein an attempt to obtain drugs.

Bairfield said Amanda Brent, 29, of 2183 Joe Felder Road, andKandi Brent, 27, of 4155 West Topisaw Road, were arrested andcharged with possession of a controlled substance. He said KandiBrent had been released on bond while Amanda Brent remained in jailunder a $10,000 bond.

In unrelated law enforcement activity, Bairfield said a LincolnCounty woman is facing the possibility of enhanced punishmentfollowing her arrest on drug charges.

Bairfield said authorities executed a “buy-bust” operation atthe 1891 Pleasant Ridge Road home of Linda Seawood, 43, Tuesdaymorning. During the course of the operation, authorities foundcrack cocaine, a firearm with a scratched-off serial number and$1,217 in cash.

Seawood was charged with sale of crack cocaine and possession ofcrack cocaine. If convicted, her sentences can be doubled becauseof the firearm possession, Bairfield said.

Seawood remained in jail Thursday under a $125,000 bond.