burglary investigation leads to drug bust

KELLOGG – Two people were arrested and charged with multiple drug offenses following an investigation of a burglary at a Pinehurst residence.  

According to court records, Pinehurst Police Officer Sam Rodier was looking for 38-year-old Elizabeth Maciel-Fetter in connection to the burglary which originated at the residence located at 2 South Division Street in Pinehurst. His investigation took him to the Kellogg home of 48-year-old Joseph Hill.  

Upon his arrival, Rodier reportedly attempted to contact Maciel-Fetter by knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell. He then observed Maciel-Fetter through a window, where she was seated in a chair and appeared to be in and out of consciousness and unaware of Rodier’s attempts to gain her attention, including knocking directly on the window and shining his flashlight directly in her face multiple times.  

According to the probable cause affidavit, he then noticed a glass dish on the coffee table that contained plastic bags containing a white, crystalline substance and a butane torch.  

Rodier reportedly returned to his vehicle to call for additional police support and request a search warrant. According to court records, while he was doing this, he observed Maciel get up from the chair and close the blinds over the window. He also reportedly observed Hill open the door, look at his patrol vehicle, and subsequently shut the door, and then close the blinds throughout the home.

In his statement, Rodier said that he believed this behavior to be consistent with attempting to destroy or hide evidence, which he determined to be sufficiently exigent circumstances to enter and attempt to secure the home.  

After the home was secured and both individuals in custody, Rodier was granted a search warrant for the home, both parties and their electronic devices. During the subsequent search, the glass dish that held the bag of crystalline substance was discovered under the couch, according to court records. Other suspected illicit substances and paraphernalia were discovered during the search and both Hill and Maciel-Fetter were booked into Shoshone County Jail.  

According to Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter, the search was handled by the Shoshone County Drug Task Force 

During their first appearances on Monday, Maciel-Fetter was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, felony destroying evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  

Hill has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.