By Staff
BUCHANAN – Approximately $2,000 worth of crack cocaine, $50 worth of marijuana, miscellanous pieces of narcotic packaging material and two digital scales were seized on Friday, Dec. 21 after a two-week long joint investigation conducted by the Berrien County Sheriff Department's Narcotics Unit and the Buchanan City Police Department.
A 9:45 p.m., the Narcotics Unit, with assistance from the Berrien County Sheriff Department's Road Patrol, the Berrien County Sheriff Department's Tactical Response Unit and the Buchanan City Police Department, executed two narcotic search warrants at 210 E. Third St. Apt. 1 and 210 E. Third St. Apt 2 in Buchanan. The investigation began began after the Buchanan City Police Department had received numerous citizen complaints of illegal narcotic activity taking place at these residences.
Cocaine and marijuana were seized from inside both apartments. The officers also seized cocaine from inside of a 2002 Ford Expedition in the driveway at the residence. Arrested individuals included Melinda Kay Fisher, 32, of apartment 1, Buchanan, who was charged with Possession of Cocaine with the intent to Deliver, Second Offense; Maintaining a Drug House, Second Offense; and Possession of Marijuana.
Michael Ray Fisher, 40, of apartment 2, Buchanan, was charged with Possession of Cocaine with the intent to Deliver; Maintaining a Drug House; and Possession of Marijuana. Richard John Kalus, 35, of apartment 2, Buchanan, was charged with Maintaining a Drug House. Also arrested was Michael Wayne-Allen Zimmerman, 19, of 4205 Hills Have Rd., Lot 1, Buchanan for Possession of Marijuana and a vlaid misdemeanor warrant for Possession of Marijuana. Under the Civil Forfeiture Law, the officers seized $1708 in U.S. Currency, six cell phones and a 2002 Ford Expedition.
During the course of this investigation, the Berrien County Sheriff Department's Narcotics Unit and the Buchanan City Police Department learned that the occupants of both of these apartments were working in conjunction with one another.
The Sheriff's Department noted that the residence located at 210 E. Third St. is a three-apartment building, however the third apartment at this location was not involved in any illegal activity.
All of the four above mentioned subjects were lodged at the Berrien County Jail on their above mentioned charges pending their arraignments in the Berrien County Trial Courts.
The other three subjects located at 210 E. Third St. Apartment numbers 1 and 2 were released with no charges being sought against them at this time.