Search warrant yields arrest, fentanyl seizure

WALLACE — Local law enforcement took a suspected drug dealer into custody Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after a Moon Gulch woman received medical attention for an overdose of fentanyl.

The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office reports that Jeremy John Streeter, 32, of Kellogg, was arrested following a search warrant being served at 62 Loper Road, trailer space No. 8. Within the dwelling, SCSO Cpt. Jeff Lee and seven other deputies located various amounts of illegal substances including 24 "mexi blue" fentanyl/methamphetamine pills. Upon the discovery, Streeter was arrested at a separate location and found to have additional pills on his person.

Cpt. Lee states that pills such as the ones located on Sunday are believed to have caused an overdose incident that emergency crews responded to the previous night at the same residence.

Reported to dispatch as an overdose, medical personnel with Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 and SCSO were able to stabilize the affected woman.

While Saturday night's events confirmed suspicions that law enforcement had of Streeter already, Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Keisha Oxendine clarified that the search warrant served on Sunday was the result of an independent investigation unrelated to the overdose and was obtained on Dec. 31, 2021 — a full day before the overdose was reported.

"Given the nature of the search warrant and safety precautions necessary for the types of controlled substances involved, sufficient and advanced planning was necessary for this search warrant execution (and any other for that manner) in order to ensure the search warrant was executed in the safest manner possible for any occupant(s) of the residence and law enforcement," she said.

Streeter is currently facing charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of a schedule II controlled substance (meth), possession of a schedule II controlled substance (heroin) and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

Two adult females also located within the residence that day were released with charges to be requested.

The exact amounts seized of each substance have not been released, as it is still being processed by the Idaho State Police laboratory.

Lee explains that the arrest could lead to others, depending on further investigations, but no further information could be released at this time.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and up to 50 times more potent than heroin. ISP Sgt. Jess Stennett explained on Episode 43 of North Idaho Now podcast that "mexi-blue" pills are counterfeit versions of prescribed fentanyl that are shipped into the U.S. from Mexico. With little to no quality control in their creation, the amount of fentanyl can vary from pill to pill — creating a high risk of overdose.

Oxendine explains that although SCSO and her office have been made aware of rising fentanyl-related cases across the country and the Pacific Northwest, it has only been in the last four months that they have seen an increase in possession of fentanyl within Shoshone County.

Lee was pleased with how all involved agencies coordinated with each other to once again take drugs out of the community.

"We have a team of deputies that care about their community — where they live and work. When we get a lead, we follow it to see where it goes. For this investigation, a drug related tip, we all know it's tied to many other issues our community faces like thefts and burglary incidents that frustrate those who live here," Lee said. "We will continue to keep an eye on those who bring drugs into our community, sell drugs, or allow drugs to be used in their home (to include both abuse of prescription medications or illegal narcotics), and we will follow the law to hold everyone accountable. We know who several of those people are within this county and I can tell you, we know who they are and we are watching. We will be coming to their home next if they continue illegal activities. Why? Because our team cares about this community."