GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY – Grand Traverse Central Dispatch Center received a tip Oct. 8 from an anonymous source that a 35-year-old man from Mancelona was using and selling drugs in the presence of his children at the Goodwill Inn in Garfield Township, near Traverse City.
According to a Michigan State Police statement, troopers launched an investigation about 3 p.m. and obtained enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant at the motel. During the search, troopers found the children were living in substandard conditions; dried and fresh blood was observed innumerous locations, an uncapped needle and broken knife blade were both found in the kitchen.
Further, troopers located an open cigarette carton in the bathroom which contained trace quantities of heroin.
While searching in the bathroom, troopers noticed several recent notifications on the suspect’s phonefrom individuals seeking drugs for purchase. In the master bedroom there was an assortment of drugs and drug paraphernalia to include a small digital scale, three more syringes, needle caps, a folding knife, Narcan, and packaging materials.
Following the search, a witness was interviewed and admitted they purchased drugs from the man two weeks earlier. The children were present at the time the search warrant was executed. They were turned over to a family member.
The man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Grand Traverse County for a prior possession of methamphetamine and another arrest warrant out of Big Rapids. He was also on felony probation from the previous drug case and a verbal detainer was placed on him after his probation officer was made aware of this investigation.
The man was lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail pending arraignment on the new charges, which include possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver Suboxone, maintaining a drug house, and four counts child neglect/endangerment
