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Drugs I Neighbors called and h(FROM PAGE A133* 2774 Berschel, No. 206; Shawn Dean Vermillion,29,415 E. Claflin; Kacie Renae Stimatze, 31,215 E. Borgmeyer, No. 10, Assaria; Justin Jeremy Barke, 32,215 E. Borgmeyer, No. 10, Assaria; and Jonathan Michael Gordon, 29,618 N. 13th.Also arrested for crimes that included drug and weapons charges were: Kamber M. Hulsey, 21; Patrick M. Young, 30; Patricia IE Linton, 30; Jeffrey B. Pow-! ell, 35; Christina A. Thayer,! 28; Jaime R. Preciado-Rivera, 23; Brad S. Holmes, 80; Alexandria M. Bussart, il; Scott A. Phoutavong, 29; and Rashode Forsey 14.;. Hill said federal indictments are being pursued against the primary offenders in the hopes that they 1011 ultimately receive longer prison sentences.--The investigation, which whs initiated by the I-135/1-70 Drug Task Force, was assisted by the police department, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement ‘ administration and the iline County Attorney’s ffice.£pn Monday, about 95 ylaw enforcement officers [participated in serving * Search warrants and mak irjhg arrests. Hill said all suspects were taken into custody without incident, fexcept for one person arrested at 1019 N. 11th, who attempted to escape by breaking through a window. Officers were there waiting fop him, Hill said.••• Lt. Jim Norton, commander of the drug task force, said neighborhood complaints about houses with excessive traffic led to the investigation.“The citizens of Salina have always volunteered information and never looked the other way, unlike in other communities,” HillTOM DORSEY / Salina Journal Salina Police Chief Jim Hill (left) and Lt. Jim Norton answer questions Tuesday morning about Operation Full Throttle during a press conference at the police station.homes for surveillance. That’s a big imposition, but they asked us to come in because they were tired of what’s going on in their neighborhoods.”Neighbors saw activitySalinan Doug Austin, who lives across the street from one of the houses involved at 618 N. 13th, said he watched Monday as police officers brought a drug-sniffing canine to the house and several officers who arrived in a white van escorted away a young man in handcuffs.He said he was glad to see something done about the house, where people were coming and going around the clock and little effort was made to hide what was going on. He said he had considered calling police about drug activity he’d seen at the location out of concern for two young children who lived there.“I’ve seen them make drug deals right on the front porch, he said. “Sometimes people would come out of the house with big rolls of money in their hands.”Austin said the neighborhood had been a nice one until new tenants arrived two or three months ago.said. You hear about things like this and think it’s not going to happen in my neighborhood, but it does. You just never know.”Lorene Burch, who also lives nearby, said she had noticed a lot of activity at the house, but she wanted to think positively about her new neighbors.“I’m glad to know they’re off the block,” she said.BIGGESTSALE OF THE YEARSTARTS FRIDAY, NOV. 27 AMBuy 11tem Get 2nd Item60% OFF8 AM-8 PM Get 25% OFF Storewide“We’ve got kids that live up and down the block here.”Drugs, violence linkedHill said drug trafficking is closely associated with increased incidents of violent crimes in Salina. He said the majority of the last 10 homicides in the city were drug-related.Deputy Police Chief Carson Mansfield said many incidents of shootings into houses, aggravated batteries and homicides that have occurred in Salina in recent years are related to drugs.“I believe this makes Salina safer,” Norton said. It’s taken guns off the street and the bad guys that carry them.”Hill commended Norton for his work in heading up the complex investigation involving thousands of hours of work.Hill said the ring was presently the biggest source of meth that law enforcement is aware of in Salina, but he said profits from the sale of illegal drugs are so great that he has no doubt someone else will step up to fill the demand.ROOfina i GUTTERSwww.kaperooflng.comESTABLISHED 1991• Residential Roofing»Commercial Roofing Decks, Siding Windows• Remodel Projects• insurance Claims Specialist• Licensed Insured• Highest Quality WorkmanshipPrompt FREE Professional Inspection785-826-2577Hill said that since the state of Kansas passed a law limiting access to cold medications used in the production of meth, the number of illegal drug labs found locally has dramatically decreased. In 2001, police dismantled 120 meth labs In Salina, compared with three labs located so far this year, he said.However, the supply of drugs from other places has continued to fill the demand, he said.Unfortunately, our community has had an insa-' tiable appetite for meth,” he said. “For a while in Salina, Kan., drugs are going to be a little bit harder to obtainlt;M« W Darlflo AuaYour Trusted Hearing ProfessionalHealthcare, ot Salina
Newspaper Details
Salina Journal
Salina, Kansas, US
Wed, Nov 25, 2009
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Brianna J.
USA 15 Jan 2024
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