Suspects arraigned after drug standoff in Edwardsburg
Published 3:54 pm Friday, February 22, 2019
CASS COUNTY — Tamara Tierney, 30, Viktoria Salveson, 18, and Joshua Butler, 40, were arraigned Wednesday on drug charges following vehicle pursuit that began in Elkhart County and ended in a barricade inside an Edwardsburg home on Channel Parkway Sunday afternoon. Bond was set at $30,000 cash or surety.
The vehicle pursuit began in Elkhart County and crossed into Cass County at around 2:25 p.m. Sunday, ending in a barricade inside an Edwardsburg home near Juno Lake in Mason Township. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department after the pursuit crossed county lines. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said the altercation on Sunday had only one reasonable outcome.
“That house was under suspicion, then the chase led us right to it.”
A suspect 34-year old abandoned a stolen vehicle in the Edwardsburg area and fled to the home on Channel Parkway. The suspect barricaded himself inside, and police believed he was armed. Police negotiated with the suspect via cell phone, and after approximately 50 minutes he exited the home and gave himself over to the police.
Following the incident, officers conducted a search of the residence. Four subjects were detained inside of the residence, including Butler, Tierney, Salveson and a 29-year-old female. After the arrests, detectives continued a search of the home. Detectives located over an ounce methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia, over $4,000 cash, a gallon-sized Ziploc of marijuana and a bag containing cocaine. Two more stolen vehicles were recovered outside the residence, which were reported as stolen out of Indiana.
Butler, of Elkhart, was taken to the Cass County Jail and lodged on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Tierney, also of Elkhart, was taken to the Cass County jail and lodged on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine. Salveson, of Goshen, was taken to the Cass County jail and lodged on charges for possession of methamphetamine. The 34-year-old male, of Elkhart, was transported back to Elkhart for detention and potential charges by Elkhart County deputies.