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Four people were arrested and five others are being investigated in connection with alleged drug dealings at local hotels.
Officers with the Kosciusko County Special Operations Team said that renting hotel rooms for deal drugs is a recent trend that keeps neighbors and police from suspecting illegal activity. By dealing drugs from the hotel room, the people involved don't show a lot of traffic at their own residences and avoid others becoming suspicious of their activities, officials said.
The following people were arrested Thursday:
• Michael A. Douglas, 33, of Elkhart, charged with dealing a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and carrying a gun without a permit;
• Joshua J. Rollins, 22, of 9 EMS T45A Lane, Leesburg, charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a firearm by a felon;
• Lucas Skinner, 31, Fort Wayne, charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine); and
• Valerie J. Jeffrey, 21, of 213 EMS W30 Lane, North Webster, charged with visiting a common nuisance.
No bonds were set.
Police said these arrests, which took place at the Hampton Inn in Warsaw, are a major achievement in eliminating the distribution of illegal drugs in the community. The other suspects being investigated were at the Super 8, Warsaw. All of the suspects are allegedly involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, also known as "crank." More arrests are expected.
Thursday's arrests were the culmination of a two-week investigation involving Kosciusko and Elkhart county and Goshen drug task forces, Warsaw Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Police reportedly confiscated a substantial amount of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $8,000, two handguns and $5,000 in cash.
Anyone with information about illegal drug activities in Kosciusko County is asked to call the Special Operations Team at 267-5667.
