Sheriff Robert Pickell said complaints had come in to his department that a 16-year-old Linden High School student was selling illegal drugs to other high school students, and middle school students. The posse conducted a surveillance of the house and obtained enough information to obtain a search warrant.
On Tuesday, at about 5:30 p.m., the posse arrived at the house, located on Lydia Lane and conducted a search of the premises. Found in the teen's bedroom were 28 thumbnail sized ziplock style baggies containing suspected marijuana and eight clear plastic baggies containing suspected crack cocaine, which were packaged for sale. The sheriff said the posse also found a .357 Smith and Wesson 6-shot, fully loaded revolver in the teen's bedroom.
Pickell said the search continued into the basement where the posse found $600 cash, in small bills. The cash was found in a Crown Royal whiskey bag and hidden between the cushions of a couch. They also found 87 individually growing marijuana plants in the basement window well. Each plant is valued at $1,000.
"This was a growing operation," Pickell said.
"We have no proof that it was sold in school," said Pickell. "But, it was sold to high school and middle school kids."
Pickell said the 16-year-old in question is a ward of the court from Wayne County and that there is an active warrant for his arrest for escaping from custody. The teen had been charged with felonious assault in Wayne County.
The sheriff said the teen's 51-year-old mother, and a 59-year-old male who were living at the house, "knew he was dealing drugs and the man was selling drugs, too.
"We want to charge the teen as an adult," said Pickell. "His record belies his tender years. He's already been charged with felonious assault and escaped.
"He was selling crack cocaine, which is a highly addictive drug and marijuana.
"He had a fully loaded .357 Smith and Wesson.
"Drugs is a violent business."
Pickell said what disturbs him is that when parents send their children to school there is a reasonable expectation that it is a drug-free zone.
"There's no proof that he sold in school, but they were buying outside of school," the sheriff said.
Pickell said that while the search of the house was being executed, the teen called the house. The teen had not been located at press time Friday.
"We believe he fled back to Detroit," Pickell said.
Possible charges to the adult male include possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, which is a 20-year felony.
A bag of marijuana was found in the mother's bedroom and she admitted that it was hers and for recreational use only, according to Pickell. She was arrested for possession of marijuana.
Field tests of the suspected drugs came back positive, but before the adults are arraigned, possibly next week, official test results from the crime lab are necessary.
Pickell said a word of caution to parents is needed.
"Sometimes we think we live in a bedroom community," he said. "We give our kids what they need and we don't think drugs are in the community.
"Drugs are widespread and even in the middle schools."
Pickell said he will be meeting with U.S. District Attorney Stephen J. Murphy next week to discuss drug testing kits for parents to use on their kids.
"Trust them, but, also test them," Pickell said. "Make sure they're not using drugs. It's our responsibility.
"We want to save these kids.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
"It's a widespread problem."