The Richmond Hill Police Department executed search warrants at the A1 Motel on U.S. 17 Tuesday afternoon and arrested two people on multiple drug-related counts.

“We had received several complaints about the location regarding the use and distribution of meth,” Det. Terry Getch said. “The arrests were the result of two previous investigations and outstanding warrants for one of the individuals.”

Getch said one of the people arrested, Donna Pitts, was the on-site manager of the motel. She is lodged in the Bryan County Jail and charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors, including possession of a controlled substance.

A Richmond Hill man arrested at the same time is believed to have been at the motel rather than his residence in order to avoid outstanding warrants out of Chatham County, Getch added. His name was not listed on the inmate list at the Bryan County Jail as of press time, although police said both could be facing up to 10 charges.

Two minor children living at the motel were turned over to the Bryan County Division of Family and Children Services.

“That’s one reason we showed up there was because of the danger to the children involved,” said Capt. Jason Sakelarios. “We wanted to get them out of that situation.”

Sakelarios added that while the arrests did not result in the confiscation of a large amount of drugs, they should help put a dent in the meth distribution in Richmond Hill.

“There was a lot of drug paraphernalia confiscated,” he said.

Getch added that meth is the biggest drug problem the community is facing right now in addition to abuse of prescription narcotics.