Twelve people were arrested Thursday on multiple drug charges after a tip led law enforcement officers to search a Columbus home for narcotics and several firearms.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, officers from the Columbus Police Department SWAT Team, consisting of officers from the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, searched a home at 2127 California St. after receiving information that the house contained narcotics and several firearms inside.
Police found approximately one pound of methamphetamine, a quarter ounce of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, marijuana, several controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, syringes, scales and drug packaging material.
Officers also recovered several long guns, including two AR-15 rifles, an AK-47 rifle, four handguns and a large amount of ammunition and U.S. currency.
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Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were also recovered inside the bedroom of a small child who was not home at the time of the warrant service.
Arrested were:
- Raheem A. Gary, 26, of 903 Chestnut St., on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, visiting a common nuisance and an existing Bartholomew County warrant. Held with no bond.
- Leslie L. Carmen, 32, of 2127 California St., on preliminary charges of maintaining a common nuisance, dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, possession of a legend drug device, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana. Held with no bond.
- Jessica N. Adams, 34, of 2127 California St., on preliminary charges of maintaining a common nuisance, body attachment, felony dealing in methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine or narcotic drug, possession of a legend drug device, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a legend drug, possession of marijuana. Held with no bond.
- Dut D. Tong, 26, of 1723 Home Ave., on preliminary charges of visiting a common nuisance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance. Held with no bond.
- Hugo A. Alba, 34, of 2403 Home Ave., on preliminary charges of visiting a common nuisance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a legend drug device. Held with no bond.
- Rachel A. Cardoso-Nelson, 30, of Clifford, on a preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana. Held with no bond.
- Brandon Michael Stephens, 26, of Nineveh, on preliminary charges of felony dealing in methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine or narcotic drug, possession of a legend drug device, possession of paraphernalia, possession of legend drug, maintaining a common nuisance, visiting a common nuisance. Held with no bond.
All seven individuals were incarcerated with a 48-hour hold as the investigation continued Friday.
Prior to serving the warrant Thursday night, officers from the CPD Intelligence Led Policing Unit, assisted by Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Diesel and his handler, conducted several traffic stops and arrested the following individuals on preliminary drug-related charges:
- Jessica L. Boyce, 40, of Louisville, Kentucky, on preliminary charge of possession of a legend drug injection device. Bond was set at $57,500.
- Kendra L. Fields, 23, of 547 Collier St., on preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug injection device and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $60,000.
- Mark A. Lang, 34, of 2715 Tyler Drive, on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $60,000.
- Alexandra J. Calhoun, 30, of Edinburgh, on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a legend drug injection device. Bond information unavailable.
- Thomas K. Kooiman, 51, of Columbus, on a preliminary charge of possession of marijuana. Bond information unavailable.
Additional charges are possible in the ongoing investigation, police said.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said the partnership among the Columbus Police Department, the Bartholomew County Prosecutors Office and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department since the county’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team was formed in 2015 is working.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
"Together, we are addressing this issue head on," Myers said.
Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde said the sizable amount of drugs and weapons removed from the city Thursday was due in part to the hard work of local law enforcement officers.
"I am proud of the great work that these officers do each day and the sacrifices they make to help keep our community safe," Rohde said.
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The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office is proactively targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Jennings County drug sweep nets five arrests. Page A3.
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