By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

An investigation that kept city police busy for a month came to an end Thursday resulting in the arrest of a Niles man.

The city’s special response team executed a search warrant on Jan. 7 at the Arbor Trails apartment complex on North Fifth Street. Inside the suspected apartment, police found Christopher Kirtdoll, 27.
Kirdtoll, the resident of the apartment, was with an adult female and three young children at the time, police said.

During a search of the apartment, officers found a “small” amount of crack cocaine as well as a digital scale and packaging material.

Kirtdoll was arrested and taken to the Niles City Jail where he was held until his arraignment with the Fifth Distrct Court in Niles on Jan. 8.

Charges include delivery and manufacturing narcotics/cocaine, less than 50grams, second offense and controlled substance, maintaining a drug house, also second offense.

He was lodged at the Berrien County Jail under $20,000 cash/surety bond.

In May 2009, the Niles City Police Department put an end to “Operation Tulip,” a three-month investigation into the sale of illegal narcotics within the city, resulting in 17 arrests.

Kirtdoll was arrested following that investigation under a warrant that listed one count of delivery of cocaine and/or subsequent offense 40 years and/or $25,000.

A preliminary exam date has been set in Berrien County Drug Court for Kirtdoll for Jan. 20.
Police are considering charges against a female connected to the investigation.