Police raid alleged Moses Lake drug house
Herald Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 11 months AGO
MOSES LAKE - One man was arrested on drug charges and eight others detained when police raided a house on Peninsula Drive in Moses Lake.
Moses Lake police partnered with detectives from Grant County's Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team on a three-month long investigation leading up to the service of a search warrant on the house at about 5 p.m. Wednesday.
They reportedly found evidence of sole tenant, Danny W. Stotts, 42, being involved in the sale and manufacture of marijuana, according to Moses Lake Police Capt. Dave Ruffin.
Stotts was booked into Grant County Jail on several drug-related charges, including keeping and maintaining a drug house, possession of more than 40 grams of marijuana with intent to deliver, manufacturing marijuana and delivery of marijuana to undercover detectives.
The investigation is ongoing and there may be further arrests, Ruffin said.
Detectives are still determining the exact amount of marijuana and plants seized during the incident, according to officials with the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
A criminal charge enhancement will also be filed since the alleged drug activity occurred within 1,000 feet of a school, Ruffin said. This could leave Stotts open to a fine and/or imprisonment of up to twice the amount otherwise authorized by state law.
"This was an active drug house," Ruffin stated; adding several people arrived at the house in the roughly two hours police were present. "Even after Stotts was in custody and detectives were searching the home, eight other persons, on separate occasions, came to the residence. All of these subjects were attempting to buy marijuana."
While the eight subjects were initially detained, Ruffin stated they were released "pending determination of criminal charges."
On behalf of Moses Lake police and the drug task force Ruffin thanked citizens in the neighborhood who alerted police to suspicious activity at the Peninsula Drive home.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Moses Lake Police Department at 509-764-3887 or the Inter Agency Narcotics Task Force at 509-754-2011, ext. 607.
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