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STING |
2010 Annual Report
About
Due to the rural and
recreational nature of the area, there is a lack of an industrial or
manufacturing base for employment. This
results in low per-capita income, high unemployment and high per-capita rates of
welfare/social services cases and associated incidents of substance abuse.
The average median household income is
only 66% of the average for the State of
This area is a prime
area for the cultivation of marijuana, including indoor grow operations.
The vast amount of State and Federal forest lands, large tracts of
private undeveloped woodlands and farms provide many isolated areas for the
cultivation of marijuana and the possible clandestine manufacture of
methamphetamine.
There are several high
volume traffic corridors that exist within the STING area, including I-75 and
US-23. These routes provide direct access to known source cities, such as
This area also contains other transient population centers, which contribute to
the associated incidents of substance abuse and related criminal activity.
These areas include the Standish Maximum
Security Correctional Facility, Camp Lehman Correctional Facility,
Board of Directors
Sheriff Jim Moscoski
Sheriff Al MacGregor
Sheriff Kirk Wakefield
Sheriff Kevin Grace
Sheriff Randy Stevenson
Robert Woolever, Council Member
City of West Branch
Chief Rodger Williams, Board Chairman
Bruce Reetz,
Chief Mark David
Captain Dan Miller, 3rd District
Headquarters
F/Lt. Jeff Anthony, Post Commander, West
Branch
F/Lt. Robert Lesneski, Post Commander,
Rodger Williams,
Chairman
STING Executive Board
Unit Commander Comments
January 20, 2011
2010 saw a record year
for the team, with the number of investigations reaching new highs.
We continue to be the
beneficiary of 2 Federal Stimulus grants, which pay for a deputy from Arenac and
We
continue to target those individuals who choose to bring illegal narcotics into
our area. We also have placed an
emphasis on “drug houses”, or maybe more properly identified as “nuisance
houses”. You may be familiar with
the house that has a high amount of vehicle traffic with no plausible
explanation (day care center, high school kids, etc).
Please contact your local police department if you have concerns about a
house in your neighborhood.
D/Lt. Jeff Keister
Unit Commander
Goals
ü
Develop
intelligence sources through arrests of local dealers/users – we have increased
the number of informants developed.
ü
Collaborate
with local prosecutor’s to use all means to identify and prosecute individuals
or organizations – we have increased the amount of drugs seized from targeted
individuals/organizations.
ü
Collaborate
with local physicians/pharmacists/practitioners to identify abuse within the
system.
ü
Develop
intelligence sources through arrests of local dealers/users.
ü
Collaborate
with community groups and prevention programs to provide awareness campaigns –
we have increased the number of citizen contacts for prevention/awareness.
ü
Collaborate
with local probation and parole officers to hold repetitive offenders
accountable.
ü
Develop
shared sources of information and consistent modes of dissemination.
ü
Target
increased crime rates, and decreased clearance rates.
ü
Develop
intelligence sources through arrests of local dealers.
ü
Collaborate
with local prosecutor’s to use all means to identify and prosecute supply
organizations.
ü
Collaborate
with Federal prosecutor’s to identify and prosecute supply organizations.
ü
Impact
organizations/individuals through asset forfeiture.
ü
Collaborate with community
groups and prevention programs to provide awareness campaigns – we have offered
information and raised awareness through meetings with local citizen contacts
and groups.
2010 participating
entities were Arenac, Crawford, Iosco, Oscoda, Roscommon and
Personnel assigned from
the following agencies:
Arenac County Sheriff Department:
1
Crawford County Sheriff Department:
1
Ogemaw County Sheriff Department:
1
Roscommon County Sheriff Department:
1
City of West Branch/Civilian:
1
Marijuana (plants)
902
$902,000.00
Sch 2 Other (units)
8
$120.00
Cocaine (grams)
3.02
$302.00
Codeine (units)
14
$210.00
Fentanyl (patch)
2
$30.00
Hydrocodone (units)
131
$1,965.00
Hydromorphone (units)
71
$1,065.00
Methadone (units)
39
$585.00
Morphine (units)
65
$975.00
Oxycodone/Oxycontin
(units)
290
$8,700.00
Percocet (units)
144
$2,160.00
Tramadol (units)
20
$300.00
Dihydrocodeinone
(units)
99
$495.00
Vicodin (units)
210
$1,260.00
Sch 4 Other (units)
24
$48.00
Alprazolam (units)
198
$526.00
Diazepam (units)
19
$38.00
Xanax (units)
71
$142.00
Ecstasy (units)
2
$50.00
Heroin (grams)
6.55
$1,638.00
Crack Cocaine (grams)
8.22
$822.00
Methamphetamine
(units)
1
$100.00
Lortab (untis)
6
$30.00
Lorezapam (units)
60
$120.00
Other (units)
218
$218.00
Suboxone (units)
5
$50.00
Valium (units)
20
$40.00
290 complaint investigations were originated
32 search warrants were served
Significant Cases
STING was contacted by a CI who advised
that he/she could purchase Marijuana.
The CI made a phone call and a controlled buy was
set up.
The CI had arranged to meet the suspect
at his/her residence.
The CI purchased 28.7 grams Marijuana for $200.
A 2nd
controlled buy was set up and the CI purchased 28 grams Marijuana for $200.
A 3rd
controlled buy was arranged with the CI and an Undercover Officer.
The Undercover Officer purchased another 2 grams of
Marijuana for $200.
Two more controlled buys were done by
the Undercover Officer on a corresponding case.
A total of 54.3 more grams of Marijuana were
purchased for $290.
Conversation with the suspect during the buys led
Officers to check on potential insurance fraud/false police report against the
suspect for claiming to hit a deer.
A
consent to search was signed and officers found 6.8 grams of Marijuana.
The suspect was arrested for Delivery/Manufacture
Marijuana and his/her roommate was arrested for Maintaining a Drug House.
A CI contacted the STING office stating
that he/she could purchase liquid Methadone.
A controlled buy was arranged and the CI purchased
200mg of Methadone from the suspect for $100.
During the buy Officers heard the suspect
explaining how to administer the Methadone by splitting it into four quarters
and using a dropper.
Suspect was arrested for Controlled Substance
Delivery/Manufacture.
STING was contacted by a CI stating
that he/she could purchase Marijuana.
A controlled buy was set up and the CI made contact
with the suspect who made contact with another suspect.
The CI did purchase 5 grams of Marijuana for $60.
The CI also stated that he/she felt uncomfortable
while inside the residence because there were children present.
Arrest warrants were obtained and the
two suspects were arrested for Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana.
A search was obtained and executed at a suspect’s residence
and led to the seizure of marijuana, scales, and money.
Officers seized 15.4 grams Marijuana, set of digital scales
and $260.
Suspect was arrested for
Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana.
STING Officers were contacted by a CI
who stated that he/she could purchase Marijuana.
Officers drove the CI to a location to meet with
the suspect.
Officers and the CI observed the suspect vehicle and the
CI made contact with the suspect and purchased 27.4 grams Marijuana for 170.
STING Officers received information
from a credible and reliable source that there were narcotics in a vehicle
heading to the Grayling area.
A traffic stop was done on the vehicle.
Officers ran the driver and the passenger in LEIN.
The driver was arrested for FOC warrants.
The passenger was advised about the info received
about there being narcotics in the vehicle.
Officers asked if they could search the vehicle.
The passenger said yes, but Officers told her that
there was no need to search the vehicle because they knew that she had the
narcotics on her.
The suspect then stated that the narcotics were
“inside” her.
A female Officer was on scene and the narcotics
were turned over to Officers.
The suspect stated that she was asked by the driver
to hide them in her when they saw the police car.
Officers seized 1 gram of Heroin and 1
gram Crack Cocaine.
The driver was arrested on the FOC warrant for
Non-Payment of Alimony and Delivery/Manufacture Cocaine/Heroin.
The passenger was arrested for two counts
Delivery/Manufacture Cocaine/Heroin.
STING received information from a CI
who stated that he/she could purchase Methadone and Xanax.
A controlled buy was arranged and the CI did
purchased 5 Methadone pills and 5 Xanax pills for $50.
The CI informed Officers that he/she
could make additional purchases from the suspect and possibly from the suspect’s
mother, but it had to be before they move to
The suspect was arrested for
Creation/Delivery of Analogue and Delivery/Manufacture Controlled Substance.
Officers learned during the interview
with the suspect that he/she knew who busted him/her as he/she took notes from
the sales he/she was conducting for his/ her mother while she was in
STING was contacted by a CI who
informed Officers that he/she could purchase Oxycodone and Xanax from a suspect.
A controlled buy was set up and the CI purchased 7
Oxycodone pills and 5.5 Alprazolam pills for $165.
The CI also received an additional 2 Methadone
pills for doing the deal.
The CI stated that the suspect was baby-sitting
his/her grandchild during the time of the deal.
The suspect was arrested for two counts
Controlled Substance Creation/Delivery Analogue and Controlled Substance
Delivery/Manufacture Schedule 1, 2 & 3.
STING was contacted by a CI that stated that he/she could
bring an Undercover Officer with them to purchase Heroin from a suspect at
his/her residence. A controlled buy was arranged and the CI and the UC went to
the residence and purchased .3 grams of Heroin for $145.
The suspect was later arrested for Delivery/Manufacture
Cocaine/Heroin.
A CI made contact with STING Officers advising that he/she
could purchase Morphine from a well-known dealer.
The CI also advised that the suspect would have to
be picked up at McDonalds and taken to a different location to get the Morphine.
The CI left the pre-determined meet
location and drove to McDonalds.
Surveillance crews followed the CI vehicle.
The CI picked up the suspect and drove north.
The CI was seen at the passenger side of a blue
vehicle then returning to his/her vehicle.
Once back on the road Officers had MSP conduct a
traffic stop on the CI’s vehicle (for no registration light).
STING arrested the suspect for two prior Controlled
Substance Delivery charges.
Officers searched the suspect and found an unused
needle and a contact case that had a white in color substance in the left cap.
The CI advised that he/she picked up
the suspect and that the suspect advised him/her (CI) that the Morphine pills
were in the blue vehicle on the dash and to just leave the money on the dash
also.
The CI did purchase 2 Morphine pills.
Using an internet website Officers created profile in attempt
to locate narcotic traffickers.
STING had multiple email conversations
with a suspect whom advised that he/she lived in the
The UC picked up the unopened package
from the address. Officers
opened it and found 3 Marijuana cookies that were contained in a glass jar.
The UC continued to email the suspect and get a
contact number for him/her and request more “treats”.
The suspect was later arrested for
Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana.
STING made contact with a suspect using
an internet site, got a contact number and arranged to purchase 1/4 ounce of
Marijuana.
A meet was set up and the UC purchased 7.1 grams of
Marijuana for $50.
The suspect made small talk with the UC about being
a guard for people that developed a strain of Marijuana called “Pink Floyd”.
Arrangements were made that the UC might call for
another “bag”.
Officers obtained an arrest warrant and
arrested the suspect for Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana and Computers – Use to
do Crime.
STING was contacted by a CI who stated
that he/she could purchase Marijuana.
Officers set up a deal and met with the CI and gave
him/her $700 pre-recorded MSP buy money to pay off the debt he/she owed the
suspect.
Surveillance crews observed the CI pull into the driveway
and enter the location.
The suspect and the CI were heard on the
transmitter and the CI was seen leaving the location.
The CI was fronted 111.1 grams of Marijuana on this
day.
The CI also advised that the suspect had approximately 1/4
to 1/2 pound of Marijuana left in the bag that his/her 1/4 pound came from.
The CI contacted Officers and advised
that the suspect was looking for his/her money that was owed for the 1/4 pound
that was fronted to him/her.
Officers met with the CI and gave him/her $400 of
pre-recorded MSP buy money to pay off the debt.
The suspect was arrested for
Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana.
On a corresponding case, STING Officers executed a search
warrant after a controlled purchased was conducted.
During the investigation Officers learned that the
suspect might possess fully automatic
firearms.
STING seized 517.6 grams Marijuana,
digital scales, 22 firearms, a crossbow, 33 Marijuana Plants, 2 snowmobiles, a
four wheeler, a Cadillac and $2,417.
During the search warrant Officers
located a hidden room where some of the guns were located.
The suspect stated that he/she didn’t tell Officers
about the hidden room because he/she kept the guns in there so when people break
into the house they wouldn’t find them and he/she didn’t want Officers to take
the guns.
The roommate was also arrested for
Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana.
STING was contacted by a CI who stated
that he/she could purchase Xanax.
Officers met with the CI and a controlled purchase
was performed.
$40 of pre-recorded MSP buy money was given to the
CI.
The CI purchased 20 Xanax pills on this day.
The suspect was later arrested for
Controlled Substance Delivery/Manufacture Schedule 1, 2 & 3.
Officers were contacted by a CI who
advised that he/she could purchase Methamphetamine.
Officers met with the CI and provided him/her with
$50 of pre-recorded MSP buy money.
Surveillance crews followed and overheard through
the transmitter the CI and the suspect.
The CI had to drive the suspect to another location
to purchase the narcotics.
The CI purchased .03 grams of Methamphetamine.
A 2nd
buy was arranged and the CI purchased .03 grams of Methamphetamine for $25.
The suspect was arrested on 2 counts of
Methamphetamine Delivery.
STING Officers were contacted by D/Lt.
Keister, advising that Oscoda County Deputies had executed a search warrant on a
residence and had located items leading them to believe that Methamphetamine was
being manufactured at the residence.
STING responded to the scene and
observed what had been located inside the residence.
Items included "cold packs", coleman fuel, and
glass containers.
Contact was made with 7th
District coordinator D/Sgt. Mitch Stevens, who referred us to the 3rd
District coordinator D/Lt. Uribe.
Officers spoke with D/Lt. Uribe, who came to the
scene.
The residence is a single wide mobile
home, in poor condition.
Front steps were missing, and a hole in the floor
was observed just inside the front door.
There were no vehicles other than patrol cars.
No occupants were in the residence.
Prior to a detailed search of the
residence, an outdoor burn barrel was checked.
Opened battery casings, blister packs, and
packaging from cold packs, all of which were partially burned, were located in
the barrel.
STING along with a Meth Response Team,
Oscoda Deputies and Big Creek Fire Department were on scene.
Site control was established, and an emergency
response plan, as well as a safety health plan were developed, per NES field
guide.
D/Lt. Uribe conducted a safety briefing covering Meth team
and DEA protocols, protective equipment levels, and emergency decontamination
procedures, OSHA requirements, general safety procedures and intelligence,
general assignments, procedures were discussed.
Fire Department personnel were in full turn out gear, SCBA's,
and a charged water hose in case of fire or decontamination.
The Meth team entered the residence
with Officers wearing Nomex, Level C suits, and APRS.
Officers carried an air monitoring device and a
video recorder.
In plain view were items indicating the manufacture
of Meth.
A window in the rear bedroom was opened for further
ventilation.
Items seized and/or destroyed were:
A. 4 - 20 oz. plastic soda bottles, and
2 - 2 liter plastic soda bottles, with rubber hoses
protruding from cap.
These items are consistent with being an HCL gas
generator, and are believed to have contained salt and sulfuric acid.
The rubber tube from one bottle was cut, and cut
portion to be sent to lab for analysis.
The bottle the rubber tube was cut from tested
positive for HCL gas on a Drager Tube analysis.
All bottles destroyed per DEA and MSP policy.
B. 3 empty containers, and 1 gallon
container, approximately 1/3 full, of Coleman brand lantern fuel.
Containers and contents destroyed per DEA and MSP
policy.
C. Glass mason jar, containing a small
amount of unknown liquid in the bottom.
Sample taken for lab analysis.
Jar destroyed per DEA and MSP policy.
D. Packaging for Claritin, containing pseudoephedrine.
E. 1 - 1 lb. bottle of drain opener
(lye), 2/3 full.
Bottle and contents destroyed per DEA and MSP
policy.
F. Small bundle of coffee filters, destroyed per DEA and MSP
policy.
G. Cardboard packaging for Energizer Lithium batteries,
seized as evidence.
H. 2 glass shot glasses with powder
residue.
1 shot glass seized as evidence, and the other shot glass
destroyed per DEA and MSP policy.
Officers made contact with the DEA and obtained the
appropriate numbers.
Contact was also made with a disposal company and
the Department of Community Health.
The suspect was lodged on warrants at
the time of the search.
Some of those charges were STING charges for
selling narcotics.
STING received a tip that Marijuana was
being used at a residence.
STING Officers made contact with the suspect and
asked about Marijuana being used in the residence and allowed us into his/her
residence.
Officers were provided with some of the Marijuana in
his/her house and after further questioning and a consent search more was
located throughout the residence and inside of a locked safe.
The suspect did not have a medical marijuana card.
Officers seized 306 grams of Marijuana
and a scale.
The suspect was arrested for Delivery/Manufacture
Marijuana.
STING received information that a suspect was currently in
the process of manufacturing Methamphetamine at his/her residence.
Officers were further advised that he/she was in
the process of cooking Methamphetamine in a small shed that is affixed on the
property behind his/her residence.
Officers were also advised that the suspect was in
possession of red devil lye, lithium batteries, fertilizer, pseudoephedrine, and
other components that are used to manufacture Methamphetamine. Officers were
also advised that the suspect burns all evidence of manufacturing in a fire pit
near where the shed is affixed on the property.
STING along with
Deputies and MSP drove the residence to conduct a knock and talk with the
occupants. As Officers arrived on scene and approached the front door, they
observed the suspect exiting a small brown shed on the west end of the property.
The suspect saw Officers and immediately threw a pad lock on the shed and walked
over to them.
Contact was made with the suspect near
a fire pit on the property and advised the suspect that we received information
that he/she was in the process of manufacturing Methamphetamine and requested
permission to look around. The suspect declined consent to search his residence.
As Officers were standing next to the fire pit Officers could
smell a chemical smell, and also observed the remains of battery casings, in
plain view, in the ashes of the fire pit. Officers made contact to the persons
that were inside the residence, and requested they come out. The residence was
secured by Officers and held down while STING drafted a search warrant.
The search warrant was authorized and
signed on by the Roscommon County Magistrate.
The 3rd
District Meth response team was notified by Officers and advised that they would
be enroute as well as the Roscommon Township Fire Department.
The suspect was questioned, but didn’t
want to make a statement.
The following items were found in the brown shed:
1- gatorade like bottle containing an unknown liquid 3/4 full
with blue remnants.
1- blk bag that contained the above listed bottle
1- can of coleman lantern fluid 1/2 full
1- can of off brand lantern fluid that was almost empty
1- great value box of foil
1- muriatic acid gallon container that was 3/4 full
1- glass Pyrex baking pan containing brown residue
1- 12 ounce coke bottle; suspected gas generator containing a
white chunky substance.
1- mason jar with lid, 1/4 full of unknown clear liquid
1- blk bag containing hoses and misc tools
1- empty gatorade bottle containing suspected blue remnants
1- heating element and cords
2- small pieces of foil
1- plastic tube containing suspected meth residue
1- bottle of house
hold drain opener (lye) 1/4 full
1- small bundle of coffee filters
1- box of zyrtek 120 mg tablets that contain pseudoephedrine
1- True Value receipt showing a purchase of lithium batteries
- Several empty burned blister packs
The following items were also located in the brown shed
inside a small vanity.
1- curad cold pack
1-rite aid instant cold pack
1-bottle of house hold drain opener (lye)
3-bindles of coffee filters
1-glens bag full
of rubber gloves
The suspect was arrested for
Manufacture Methamphetamine.
Officers made contact with the persons
inside the residence.
Officers asked one of them (roommate) about a pill
container found in with the other’s name on it.
He/she advised that the pills in the container were
his/her prescription, but the bottle broke, so the other person gave him/her a
bottle to the pills in.
The other person in the residence denied knowing
anything about giving a pill bottle to the roommate for his/her prescription.
The roommate was arrested for Possession of Analogues.
STING was
contacted by a CI who stated that a UC could purchase Marijuana from a suspect.
The CI advised that the UC could drive to the
suspect's residence and meet with him/her there to purchase the Marijuana.
The UC made contact and the suspect
said that he/she had a 1/4 ounce.
The
suspect advised that he/she could get a 1/2 ounce if needed.
The UC purchased 6.4 grams of Marijuana for $70.
The suspect was arrested for
Delivery/Manufacture Marijuana.
STING was contacted by a CI who advised
that he/she could purchase $100 of Crack Cocaine.
STING Officers were aware through current and
previous investigations who the suspect was.
Officers met with the CI and provided him/her with $100 of
pre-recorded MSP buy money and a transmitter so surveillance Officers could hear
the deal.
The CI was followed to the meet
location and Officers observed a blue car pull in and park next to the CI's
vehicle. The CI exited his/her vehicle and made contact with the passenger of
the blue car.
The CI was then observed getting back into his/her
vehicle and drove away.
The CI purchased .6 grams of Crack Cocaine for
$100.
Officers were contacted again by the CI
who said that he/she could purchase more Crack.
The CI met the suspect and purchased 2.7 grams of
Crack Cocaine for $300.
STING Officer kept the suspect under
surveillance after he/she made the narcotics transaction earlier in the evening.
He/she was followed and a traffic stop was done on
the vehicle and the suspect was then arrested under a detainer issued by the
Department of Corrections for violation of parole.
He/she was searched and was in possession of STING
buy money and a Hydrocodone tablet.
The driver of the vehicle cooperated
with us and gave us consent to go to his/her residence to search it.
The search resulted in the seizure of a crack pipe,
a plate and spoon with white residue, and plastic bags with a corner missing on
each and a Bridge Card.
The Bridge Card was seized because it did not
belong to either occupants of the vehicle.
The suspect was arrested
at the Wayne County Jail on warrants charging him with 2 counts of
Delivery/Manufacture Cocaine/Heroin and 2 counts of Maintaining a Drug House.
The driver of the vehicle was also
arrested for Possession of Narcotic/Cocaine.