By Staff
ST. JOSEPH - The Berrien County Sheriff's Narcotics Unit, assisted by the Berrien County Sheriff's Road Patrol and Niles City Police Department, at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, served a narcotics search warrant at 615 N. 12th St., Niles.
The search warrant resulted from a one-week investigation into narcotics trafficking from that residence, according to Lt. Keith Hafer.
Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Police Officer Shane Daniels assisted the Narcotics Unit with the investigation.
Ralph Michael Moyer, 47, of 615 N. 12th St., Niles, was arrested on charges of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver, maintaining a drug house and violating parole for breaking and entering.
Donna Marie Wells, 46, of 615 N. 12th St., Niles, was arrested on charges of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and maintaining a drug house.
When officers arrived at the residence, both Moyer and Wells were inside.
Both were arrested and lodged in the Berrien County Jail pending arraignment on the charges.
Moyer had six days remaining on his parole for the burglary conviction.
As officers conducted a search of the residence, they discovered a large safe in the basement containing 28 packages of marijuana totaling 45.25 pounds. This would have a street value of approximately $45,000, based on the going rate of $1,000 per pound.
A second safe containing cash was discovered in a bedroom.
A scale, a police radio scanner and other drug evidence were also seized.
Officers confiscated $1,674 cash, a 1998 Jeep Cherokee, a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and trailer and electronic equipment under civil forfeiture.