Multi-agency operation leads to several arrests
In the distance you can see several law enforcement officers during a drug bust in the Page area of Smelterville. Six people were arrested during the raid, one was released.
Photo by CHANSE WATSON
SMELTERVILLE — Five people were arrested in connection with a search warrant that was executed on a home Thursday evening in the Page area of Smelterville.
Adella Dotson, 46, was arrested and charged with delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
The other four people taken into custody, Lanny Smith, 54, Vance Ellis, 58, Dezarae Tjaden, 31, and Josh Catano, 32, were all charged with frequenting a place where controlled substances are located, a misdemeanor.
A fifth person, David Blalock, was also arrested and charged with misdemeanor frequenting, but was quickly released.
Dotson has an extensive history of criminal driving offenses and former drug charges in Kootenai County.
The seven-hour operation was a cooperative effort between the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police and Kootenai County SWAT.
According to Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Keisha Oxendine, the warrant was part of a long-term investigation into the delivery of methamphetamine in Shoshone County and while the charges are numerous, all determinations are going to be dependent upon the results of ongoing lab testing.
“As with any investigation of this type, there is a lot of planning that goes into it in order to ensure the safety of any occupants of the premises, as well as law enforcement officers involved in the execution of the search warrant,” Oxendine said.
In addition to evidence connected to the above charges, property items identified as stolen were also found during the search. This investigation remains under investigation by detectives with the Idaho State Police and the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office.
“Working cooperatively with neighboring law enforcement agencies is a vital component in our fight to combat drug crimes in Shoshone County,” Sheriff Mike Gunderson said. “We remain committed to the safety of our community and will work diligently to investigate, arrest and dismantle drug-related groups whose illegal activity adversely affects the citizens and our way of life.”
Anyone with information regarding this case or others involving the distribution of dangerous drugs should contact the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office at 208-556-1114, or the Idaho State Police District 1 Investigations unit at 208-209-8670.