Deputies seize 223 grams of meth in abandoned vehicle
Photo courtesy of the SHOSHONE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE/ The 223 grams of meth recovered from an abandoned vehicle near Page on Sunday.
SCSO asks community for more information
SMELTERVILLE – What started as a simple case of someone leaving a suitcase on the hood of their car as they drove away turned into a significant methamphetamine bust last Sunday.
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office reports that on the afternoon of May 10, SCSO deputy T. Gillis was patrolling in the Smelterville area when noticed a large item appear to fall from the roof of a 2019 silver Infinity with Washington license plates as it was heading west toward the Page area on Silver Valley Road.
Gillis responded to the location where the item had landed and noticed it was a briefcase. He picked up the briefcase and attempted to locate the vehicle to return the item.
The vehicle was located a short time later parked in a grassy area off of the roadway in a dead-end cul-de-sac, seemingly abandoned to avoid police contact.
As Gillis arrived, he noticed the locking lights flashing as if someone had just locked the car, even though the vehicle was empty with the occupant(s) nowhere in sight.
Upon initial investigation, in plain view, it was discovered the vehicle had several open alcohol containers and smelled of alcohol and marijuana. Deputy Ben Abshire and his drug detection K9, deputy Lulu, were called to the scene to investigate further. After conducting a free air sniff of the vehicle, Lulu alerted to the presence of illegal substances.
“Just like all of the other successful drug/narcotic seizures this agency has had, it is extremely useful to have a drug detection K9 unit available for investigating drug related cases,” SCSO Lt. Jeff Lee said. “It is well known that a drug detection K9 is vital to finding methamphetamine because the odor is not as obvious to law enforcement when compared to the odor of marijuana.”
While this was happening, a witness approached the deputies and told them that they saw two seemingly intoxicated males leave a wooded area nearby and were walking down the roadway. Witnesses also saw the two males get into a vehicle which took them away from the scene.
Deputies were unable to locate the two intoxicated males or the vehicle that picked them up.
Following a search of the abandoned vehicle, deputies discovered that it was a rental out of Washington and was allegedly not in the possession of the female lessee.
Lt. Lee states that the renter was then found to be listed as a protected person in an active Protective Order.
“Due to the totality of the circumstances, Spokane PD was requested to do a welfare check on the renter,” he explained. “SPD was unable to locate the renter and soon after, the renter contacted SCSO and denied being in the vehicle when SCSO had contact.”
The renter also claimed to be a victim of an armed vehicle theft in Spokane earlier in the morning, but no contact with SPD was made by her to make an official police report. She was then advised to contact SPD and make a report.
Following a search of the silver Infinity, 223 grams of a white crystalline substance (believed to be methamphetamine) was found in the front compartment area, along with multiple items of drug trafficking related paraphernalia.
While the investigation is ongoing, it is believed that the occupants of the silver Infinity were involved in drug trafficking and also intoxicated.
SCSO has requested assistance from Idaho State Police with this drug trafficking investigation.
Lee asks that if there is anyone with information to assist with confirming the identity of the two subjects involved, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 208-556-1114.