Planned for weeks, Vicksburg police chose April Fools’ Day to make early-morning arrests of six men named in narcotics warrants against them obtained as a result of citizen complaints.

“Drug possession and drug sales will not go unnoticed,” said Chief Walter Armstrong. “We had a successful roundup this morning. We were able to arrest every one without incident.”

The roundup

• Jeffery Brown, 34, 2112 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., charged with two counts of sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of ecstasy.

• Kevin Dewayne Buck, 24, 20 Water Well Road, charged with sale of cocaine.

• Matthew Jared Duke, 26, 7944 Jeff Davis Road, charged with two counts of sale of a controlled substance, Lorcet and Xanex.

• Robert Jerome Hawkins, 33, 213 Demby Drive, charged with sale of cocaine.

• Michael Porter, 18, 4223 N. Frontage Road, charged with possession of anabolic steroids.

• John Earl Wash, 27, 1773 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., charged with sale of cocaine and possession of weapon by a felon.

Many appeared stupified after police pounded on doors to make the arrests, most well before sunrise.

Three of those arrested are accused of crimes in addition to drug activities, officials said.

• Kevin Dewayne Buck, 24, 20 Water Well Road, who had been out on bond for an aggravated assault charge, was arrested at home at 6:35 a.m. and charged with sale of cocaine, Lt. Bobby Stewart said.

• Robert Jerome Hawkins, 33, 213 Demby Drive, was charged with sale of cocaine, Stewart said. He was arrested at 7 a.m. at his sister’s home at 4782 U.S. 61 South. Hawkins already faced two counts of sale of cocaine and was out on bond.

• Jeffery Brown, 34, 2112 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., was arrested at his home at 5:39 a.m. and charged with two counts of sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of ecstasy, Stewart said. “Upon his arrest, additional narcotics were recovered,” Stewart said. He did not disclose the type or amount.

• Matthew Jared Duke, 26, 7944 Jeff Davis Road, was arrested at home at 4:49 a.m, and charged with two counts of sale of a controlled substance. Duke is accused of selling Lorcet and Xanax, which are prescription medicines, Stewart said.

• Michael Porter, 18, 4223 Interstate 20 Frontage Road, was arrested at home at 4:48 a.m. and charged with possession of anabolic steroids.

• John Earl Wash, 27, 1773 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., was arrested at his girlfriend’s home at 112 Athens Ave. at 9:48 a.m. and charged with sale of cocaine and possession of weapon by a felon, Armstrong said. In 2000, Wash was sentenced to five years for burglary and in 2006 he was sentenced to one year for possession of a weapon by a felon, Armstrong said.

The six were being processed at police headquarters this morning.

Buck was being held without bond due to being out on bond for aggravated assault, Stewart said. He is accused of shooting Terry Brown, 37, 609 Kings Crossing, with a shotgun on June 22 at 605 Hudson St.

In 2002, Buck was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of probation for two counts of armed robbery and one count of simple robbery, Stewart said. He was released from probation in 2006.

Similarly, Brown was being held without bond due to his being on probation, Armstrong said. In 2003, Brown was sentenced to serve three years in prison and three years of probation for possession of cocaine, Stewart said.

“People who choose to contaminate this community with drugs will have to pay a penalty,” Armstrong said.

Hawkins was being held with no bond set. Duke was being held on a $10,000 bond, Porter on $2,500, and Wash on $20,000.

Armstrong said the department has been targeting drug sales because he believes many of the crimes committed in Vicksburg are linked to narcotics.

“We believe if we target drug sales, we slow down other crimes in this community,” Armstrong said.

Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com