Four Scotland County residents accused of dealing drugs were arrested following an undercover operation on Thursday while a fifth person agreed by phone to turn himself in, authorities say.

Deputies are still looking for a sixth man they fear is on the run.

The accused dealer who has promised to be served warrants at the Scotland County Courthouse is 24-year-old convicted felon James Ray Dunn, Jr., a Laurel Hill man who is currently out on bond awaiting trial for the theft of a horse and possession of a car stolen from Laurinburg City Manager Ed Burchins.

He is wanted for possession with the intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine, sell and deliver crack cocaine and maintaining a drug dwelling, according to Jacobs.

Deputies initially believed James Dunn had heard about the operation and left town as he was not in the Corbitt Road residence in Laurel Hill he shares with his mother, 50-year-old Teresa Dunn, when deputies arrested her on drug charges, according to Investigator Scott Jacobs.

James Dunn then contacted his mother to let her know he would turn himself in either Thursday night or Friday morning, according to Jacobs. He suspects the Laurel Hill man was contacting a bondsman so he could make bail as soon as he was jailed.

James Dunn spent 18 months in prison on eight felony drug charges, according to the N.C. Department of Correction. He was released July 10, 2009. He also had prior convictions for breaking and entering and larceny.

This will be at least the fourth time he's been arrested since he got out of prison in July. He is currently awaiting trial on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, larceny of a horse, conspiracy to commit larceny, breaking and entering, and larceny.

James Dunn had not turned himself in by press time

Arrested

Jacobs said the arrests came after a two-month long undercover operation where informants and officers purchased prescription pills, crack cocaine and marijuana from at least six people.

Those arrested are:

• Teresa Dunn, 50, was arrested at her Corbitt Road home in Laurel Hill and charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, sell and deliver a controlled substance and maintaining a drug dwelling, according to Jacobs. She is accused of selling Percocets, a prescription painkiller. Teresa Dunn was placed in Scotland County jail under a $25,000 secured bond.

• Travis Locklear, 30, was arrested at his home on Corbitt Road near Laurel Hill and charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug dwelling, Jacobs said. Locklear was placed in Scotland County jail under a $10,000 secured bond.

• Thurston McKoy Johnson, 29, of North Main Street, Laurinburg, turned himself in at the sheriff's office and was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine, and sell and deliver crack cocaine, according to Jacobs. He was placed in Scotland County jail under a $5,000 secured bond. Johnson was incarcerated for more than two years after an armed robbery conviction, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.

• Shaun Alexander Jennings, 29, of St. Johns Church Road, Laurel Hill, turned himself in at the sheriff's office and was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana, sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug dwelling, Jacobs said. He was placed in Scotland County jail under a $5,000 secured bond. Jennings has a prior conviction for possession with the intent to sell and deliver a schedule VI controlled substance and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.

All four are expected in court today for their first appearances.

The investigator said these people become the target of the operation after their neighbors called in complaints about ongoing drug activities at several residences.

"We feel these communities are safer because of these arrests," Jacobs said.

These charges are part of the first phase of an ongoing drug investigation, according to Jacobs, and he said to expect more arrests as the investigation moves into its second phase.

Fugitive

Authorities are also looking for 27-year-old Tommy Brenda McLaurin, who has a last known address on Frances Road in Gibson, according to Jacobs. He is wanted for possession with the intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine and sell and deliver crack cocaine.

The investigator suspects he may have heard about his impending arrest.

"We can only assume he caught wind of it and is on the run."

He said McLaurin may turn himself in, which is not uncommon.

McLaurin spent 3 years and 6 months in prison for trafficking a schedule II controlled substance, according to the N.C. Department of Correction. He was released last April.

If you know the whereabouts of Tommy McLaurin, contact the Scotland County Sheriff's Office at 276-3385 or Scotland Crime Stoppers at 291-3333.