SWAT, Aviation and K-9 descended on a “drug den” in the 2500 block of 88th Avenue last week, arresting 10 people in the process.
Authorities seized numerous controlled prescription pills, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia. They also discovered a 10-year-old girl and her mother in the home.
The property and the residence was littered with trash, numerous other safety hazards, and drug paraphernalia that included used drug needles, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“Neighbors stood in the street and thanked our detectives and SWAT team for their efforts to rid our community of problem drug houses like this one,” Sheriff Deryl Loar said. “We are proud of the work of our VICE unit and are thankful that they were able to close down this house that was feeding the addiction of so many people. We will continue to work to get fentanyl and methamphetamine off the streets and out of the hands of the young people of our community.”
The Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon the arrests of the following people:
- Andrew Bennefield, 31, charged with sale and possession of methamphetamine;
- Jeremy Urbonowicz, 31, charged with possession and sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine;
- Kimberly Bertino, 54, charged with child neglect;
- Joseph Kirkland, 38, charged with a violation of probation warrant, possession of fentanyl and a controlled substance;
- Deborah Thompson, 63, charged with delivery of a controlled substance;
- Johnnie Thompson, 66, charged with possession of methamphetamine, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver;
- Max Hammon, 54, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia;
- Kevin Thompson, 41, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia;
- Robert Hammon, 53, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest without violence;
- and Tracy Tomlinson, 50, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a legend drug.
