On Wednesday, March 26, 2008, officials from the R.U.S.H. Drug Task Force, the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Virginia State Police arrested one employee of Charlie Obaugh Pontiac Buick GMC of Harrisonburg Inc. for drug conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Jason Westberry Sapp, Jr. was arrested without incident at his office located at 3155 South Main Street in Harrisonburg.

On Thursday, March 27, 2008 Garth William Shrader was arrested by R.U.S.H. Drug Task Force for drug, conspiracy and embezzlement charges.

Shrader, Sales Manager at Charlie Obaugh of Harrisonburg, exchanged the use of vehicles, which were for sale on the lot of Charlie Orbaugh of Harrisonburg, to various individuals for Crack Cocaine. These transactions would typically take place on weekends and occurred on numerous occasions since December of 2007.

On January 30, 2008, an individual, who traded Crack Cocaine for use of a vehicle from Mr. Shrader on January 28, wrecked the vehicle in another jurisdiction. The vehicle was returned to Shrader, who then placed the vehicle back onto Charlie Obaugh’s Dealership lot without notifying anyone about the damages. On March 7, 2008, Shrader paid another individual $300 of U.S. currency to give false information to the police and his/her insurance company about the damaged vehicle.

Jason Westberry Sapp Jr, 39 years old from Massanutten Village located in Rockingham County, was arrested for conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug (crack cocaine) and felony obstruction of justice, intimidating a witness. Both offenses occurred on March 21, 2008. Sapp is the General Manager at Charlie Obaugh of Harrisonburg.

Garth William Shrader, 43 years old of Verdant Spring Lane Harrisonburg, was arrested and charged with possession of a schedule II drug (crack cocaine) and conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug (crack cocaine). The aforementioned offenses occurred on March 21, 2008. Shrader was also charged with conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug (crack cocaine), which occurred on January 28, 2007.

In addition to the drug charges Shrader was charged with attempt to obtain money by false pretenses, embezzlement, solicitation to obtain money by false pretenses, unlawful use of dealer tags (license plates) and allowing an unlicensed person to operate a motor vehicle.

This was a four month investigation, which included covert operations with confidential Informants, surveillance techniques, search warrants and other investigative skills. Efforts from investigators with the Harrisonburg Police Department Criminal Investigative Division were instrumental in this case.