By Bonnie Culverhouse
Attempts to serve a search warrant for alleged killer Cedric Stephens Friday, yielded instead the arrest of another man on multiple drug charges.
Catorio Dirante Shelton, 41, of the 100 block of Chandler Street, Minden, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute natural marijuana, Ecstasy, methamphetamine, Adderall, hydrocodone and synthetic marijuana – street valued at approximately $100,000.
“U.S. Marshals and officers went to Chandler Street to serve a search warrant for Stephens who has an active warrant for second degree murder through our agency,” Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said. “During the search for Stephens, a back pack was located in plain view in the basement room. The backpack was open and officers could see marijuana in the bag.”
Officers reportedly cleared the residence for Stephens, and awaited a second search warrant for illegal narcotics and paraphernalia.
During the search, officers reportedly located one large bag of marijuana, 2 large bags of Ecstasy tablets (estimated to be around 3,000 tablets), a large bag of methamphetamines, 4 small baggies of natural marijuana, Kool plastic with synthetic marijuana, a box of sandwich baggies, marijuana grinder, digital scales, 2 small baggies with suspected Fentanyl, a large amount of Adderall tablets, a prescription bottle with an unknown white powder and multiple hydrocodone tablets.
“Post Miranda, Shelton stated all the drugs were stolen from a house on the ‘west side’,” said the chief.
The search for Cedric Stephens continues. He is wanted in the shooting death of Daniel Madison Merritt.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
