KVET executes search warrant on Lawrence St

December 9, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: On December 8th, investigators from the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team and officers from the Kalamazoo Metro SWAT Team executed a search warrant in the 500 block of Lawrence St. This warrant was in reference to several citizen complaints of drug trafficking occurring at this location.

While the entry team was approaching the front of the residence, four suspects attempted to flee out the backdoor. All four suspects were quickly apprehended. During a search of these suspects, a 25-year-old male was found to be in possession of a distribution amount of heroin and a large amount of US currency. A 15-year-old suspect was found to be in possession of crack cocaine and US currency. During a search of the residence, additional crack cocaine and evidence of the manufacturing and distribution of crack cocaine was located. The 25-year-old suspect will face charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Resisting Arrest and Maintaining a Drug House. The 15-year-old suspect was turned over to his guardian and will face charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Resisting Arrest. All suspects are Kalamazoo residents. All charges will be forwarded to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office for review. The City of Kalamazoo Housing Department was also contacted due to hazardous conditions. While investigators were on scene, several subjects came to the residence looking to purchase narcotics from the dealers.

KVET investigators will continue to address drug activity in the area and will continue to search for additional suspects that have been identified.

Anyone with information regarding illegal drugs or firearms activity is urged to contact KVET at 269-337-8880, or report an anonymous tip to Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

By authority of: Sergeant Matt Schemenauer

Date: 12/9/2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Capt. David Boysen, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, 269-337-8880

Directed patrol targeting parking ramps leads to heroin arrest

December 7, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

KALAMAZOO, MI: On December 6, 2016, at about 2145 hours, a Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer conducted a directed patrol in the Arcadia Parking Ramp #4 at 300 N Rose Street. The officer was using the Station 1 Segway when he encountered a man hunched over near a wall. The man appeared to be working on something.

The officer contacted the man and discovered he was loading a needle with recently prepared heroin from a kitchen spoon. The officer prevented the man from injecting himself with the potentially deadly drug by taking him into custody without incident.

The man, a 28 year old Kalamazoo resident, was arrested for Possession of Heroin and three unrelated, outstanding warrants. The man was lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail and awaits arraignment.

The area of the arrest was thoroughly checked for needles and other items of paraphernalia. These items were seized and packaged per policy. Heroin use remains a public safety health concern due to the recent spike in overdose deaths.

Anyone have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

Authority: Lt. Diaz

Date: December 7, 2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter of CID at 337-8139

Traffic stop leads to drug arrests

October 28, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

On October 28, 2016, around 2:27p.m., a Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer was on patrol in the area of Westnedge and Paterson. The officer could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle in the intersection. A traffic stop was conducted on that vehicle in the 300blk of W Paterson. After making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, a digital scale and controlled substances to include heroin, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine were located in the vehicle. At the conclusion of the investigation both the driver and front seat passenger were arrested. The driver a 32 year old male Kalamazoo resident was arrested for possession with intent to deliver heroin, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine. The front seat passenger a 22 year old male Kalamazoo resident was arrested on 3 outstanding warrants, possession with intent to deliver heroin, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine.

Anyone have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

Authority: Lt Anthony Morgan

Date: October 28, 2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter, Criminal Investigation Division, 337-8139

KVET investigators shut down heroin distribution operation

October 13, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: Over the past month, investigators from the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team have received tips and information that several “gang members” from Detroit had moved into the City of Kalamazoo and attempted to set up a heroin distribution operation. As a result of this investigation, a search warrant was executed in the 200 block of E North St in the City of Kalamazoo on October 13th. Due to a spike in heroin related overdoses in Kalamazoo County, KVET investigators have focused more resources toward the trafficking and distribution of heroin.

Upon entering the residence, investigators located one Kalamazoo man and four Detroit men. During a search of the location, investigators located a distribution amount of heroin, heroin packaged for sale, marijuana, ammunition, a large amount of US currency believed to be the proceeds for narcotic sales and items used in the packaging and distribution of narcotics. A 25 year old Kalamazoo man was arrested for Delivery and Manufacturing Heroin and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail. A 27 year old Detroit man was arrested and will be facing charges of Delivery and Manufacturing Heroin, Felon in Possession of Ammunition and Operating and Maintaining a Drug House. A 32 year old Detroit man who was not arrested will also face a charge of Operating and Maintaining a Drug house. All other subjects were released from the scene and asked to promptly return to Detroit. All charges will be sent to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutors Office for review.

Due to the geographic location of Kalamazoo being half way between Detroit and Chicago, it has often been a target for narcotics traffickers from those cities to move into the area and sell large amounts of narcotics. KVET investigators will continue to aggressively investigate heroin distribution in Kalamazoo County in order to combat this horrible drug.

By authority of: Sergeant Matt Schemenauer

Date: 10/13/2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Capt. David Boysen, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, 269-337-8880

KVET investigators execute search warrant, locate suspected drugs

April 20, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: On April 19th, investigators from the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team executed a search warrant in the 3200 block of Andover Dr in Oshtemo Township. This warrant was in reference to an on-going investigation into the distribution of high quality heroin.

During a search of the home, investigators located suspected crack cocaine, a large amount of high quality heroin, a large amount of ecstasy (MDMA) and materials used in the packaging of heroin.

A 34 year old Oshtemo man was arrested at the scene and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail. Charges of Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession With Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Possession With Intent to Distribute Ecstasy and Maintaining a Drug House will be forwarded to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Investigators made contact with several citizens in the area in reference to the action taken during this investigation. Many of the citizens contacted expressed their appreciation to KVET investigators for addressing this problem house.

Date: 4/19/2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Capt. David Boysen, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, 269-337-8880