Two separate raids on two addresses in Duluth last week yielded five arrests of out-of-town drug criminals as well as the seizures of drugs, money and guns, said the Duluth Police Department in a pair of news releases.
Following investigations into drug activity at two downtown residences, the police and Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force executed search warrants on the 1500 block of East First Street on Aug. 15 and the 100 block of East Third Street on Aug. 17.
According to the news releases:
On Aug. 15, the search warrant was the result of an investigation into the suspected sale of controlled substances by occupants of an apartment. During the search of the apartment, investigators recovered about 29.5 grams of heroin packaged for sale, 70 grams of cocaine packaged for sale, 2.5 grams of meth, 36.5 grams of marijuana, 54 ecstasy pills, drug packaging, a digital scale, two firearms, firearm ammunition and $2,857.
Investigators arrested Felix Antonio Rayford, 29, of Hammond, Ind., Donte Lawain Smith, 29, of Chicago and Kyle Darrnel Knight, 36, of Dolton, Ill.
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The men were charged with a series of felonies Friday in State District Court in Duluth - each with aiding and abetting first degree sale of cocaine/meth; aiding and abetting first degree sale of heroin; and aiding and abetting first-degree sale of cocaine/meth with a firearm. Bail for each of the three suspects was set at $300,000.
Additionally, an arrest warrant was issued for a fourth suspect, who police believe has fled to Chicago.
On Aug. 17, investigators executed a search warrant at the Third Street apartment and two vehicles associated with that address. During the search, police found about 5 grams of heroin, 7 grams of meth, a digital scale, drug packaging, $1,461 and a handgun. They arrested Derrick Lamont Ewing, 43, of Minneapolis and Jomell Louis Parsley, 36, of Chicago.
On Monday, the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office formally charged Ewing with felony second-degree sale of heroin and second degree sale of meth in a school zone. Ewing’s bail was set at $25,000 with conditions or $50,000 with no conditions. Parsley was also formally charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and giving a false name to a peace officer. Parsley’s bail was set at $15,000 with conditions or $30,000 with no conditions.
