Columbus County News and Whiteville Daily News thank you for your service to the citizens of  Brunswick, Columbus County, and  citizens of America. Deputy Sheriff, Zeller, we thank you for the expertise in handling and training K9 Viper.
In the respect of Viper being a best friend and detective, we see the priceless companionship. Rest in a perfect peace K9 Viper and thanks for protecting our community.  Viper was just like the rest of our fallen heroes. We admire his hard working spirit in exposing drug trafficking and justice. None will forget your service,  the call of duity and the loyalty you gave to your department.

We send lots of heart felt prayers your way ♥.  May the Living God lead and shield Brunswick and Colunbus County's Sheriffs Department in their war against all hard and dangerous possessions of criminally held  drugs. For now, there is other knowledge which has to be withheld because of the ongoing investigation. Viper can not be replaced, but we hope that another K-9 will be deputized and ready to work as soon as possible.

Authorities today released the names of the two men arrested in a drug investigation over the weekend during

Braulio Yanez Marin, 28, and Jamie Lopez Gonzalez, 32, were arrested and both face cocaine trafficking and conspiracy to traffic cocaine charges, according to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

Two men from Ash, were placed  in Brunswick County Jail, under a $1 million secured bonds each.

Martin

Gonzalez

Saturday evening July 16 2011 Dept. Officer Jared Zeller, found a package containing a kilo of cocaine, in a cornfield off Diamond Loop Way in Ash. The cocaine had a street value of more than $100,000.

Viper after locating the drugs came down and was  was taken to an emergency vet hospital in Southport where he was pronounced dead.