RESERVE — Point them in the right direction and let them get to work.

That’s what Sheriff Mike Tregre is asking of St. John the Baptist Parish residents fed up with drug dealing and violence in their communities.

According to the parish’s top law enforcement official, just such a bit of assistance ignited a five-month St. John Sheriff’s Special Operations investigation that culminated in a Reserve drug raid this week, seizing marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and stolen firearms, as well as nine arrests.

“This is probably one of the first cases where we got tips through the Internet and text messages,” Tregre said. “That is what I’m looking for. I don’t need people to come forward in court and point people out. Just give us the information we need, point us in the right direction and we can do our job. If more people do that, we will be more successful.”

Tregre said “successful” is a perfect way to describe Tuesday evening’s raid.

“We were doing surveillance at this location for quite some time, sitting out there on long rainy days and rainy nights,” Tregre said. “Finally, we saw enough of the people we suspected of having weapons and narcotics. That is when we made our move, which paid off.”

The raid Tuesday evening took place in the 100 block of Ellen Street following an investigation that began in January from several anonymous complaints of drug activity taking place at the location.

The Sheriff’s Office announced the investigation led detectives to focus in on the home and makeshift music studio behind the garage as the centerpieces of a drug swapshop.

Also seized Tuesday were three guns, one of which was reported stolen, and more than $1,000.

Police said four of the suspects “are convicted felons with lengthy arrest histories.” Detectives also announced they rescued four dogs that were in poor health and needed treatment.

“(The suspects) are all equal players,” Tregre said. “They are all at the same level. There was really no kingpin. It was just a group of individuals who were heavily involved in guns and weapons. Most of them are convicted felons who have been involved in a few crimes in St. John Parish over a long period of time. They were not non-violent drug dealers.”

Those arrested are:

• Kody Duhe, 25, of Garyville. Charges: possession of firearm/carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon (felony); illegal possession of a stolen firearm; obstruction of justice – tampering with evidence (felony); possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); and resisting an officer (misdemeanor). Duhe remains in custody in lieu of a $34,500 bond.

• Davin James, 26, of Garyville. Charges: Possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana. James is being held in custody in lieu of a $20,000 bond.

• Deiontae Johnson, 23, of Garyville. Charges: Possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); and illegal possession of stolen firearm. He was released Wednesday on an $11,500 bond.

• Devonte Johnson, 24, of Garyville. Charges: Possession of cocaine less than 28 grams (felony); possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine (felony); illegal carrying of weapon with a controlled dangerous substance; possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); possession of firearm/carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon (felony); possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia 1st offense (misdemeanor); and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.

He is being held in custody in lieu of a $98,000 bond.

• Trevin Johnson, 28, of Garyville. Charges: Possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); possession of firearm/carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon (felony); and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. He was released Wednesday on a $31,500 bond.

• Kenneth McKinney, 23, of LaPlace. Charges: Possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); and illegal possession of stolen firearm.

He was released Wednesday on an $11,500 bond.

• Juan Parrilla, 25, of Reserve. Charges: Possession of firearm/carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon (felony; possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); obstruction of justice – tampering with evidence (felony); possession of MDMA (felony); and illegal possession of stolen firearm. He was released Wednesday on a $38,000 bond.

• Quintrell Preston, 27, of Reserve. Charges: Possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. Preston is being held in custody in lieu of an $11,500 bond.

• Donshall Schnyder, 23, of Reserve. Charges: Possession of marijuana 1st offense (misdemeanor); and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. Schnyder was released Wednesday on an $11,500 bond.