By Pat Culverhouse
Officers from five law enforcement agencies armed with warrants swept down on three separate Minden locations early Thursday, netting seven felony arrests and illegal narcotics.
Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver said a lengthy investigation by his department’s narcotics division led to the coordinated raid on residences in the 500 block of Marshall St., the 600 block of Constable St., plus the 100 block of Timothy Dr. in a Minden trailer park.
Joining forces with the MPD in the raids which hit just before 7 a.m. were officers and agents from the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team, ATF and DEA.
McIver said the coordinated strikes were intended to enforce warrants obtained as a result of the investigation centering on individuals in the original targets at Marshall and Constable streets. One suspect named in warrants was spotted at another location which led officers to the third address.
Quantities of methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana and a variety of drug paraphernalia were recovered as a result of the raid. Individuals arrested and their charges include:
• Darien Moore, 26, 600 block Constable St., possession of methamphetamine, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Melanie Elise Lope, 36, 600 block Constable St., possession of methamphetamine, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Jeremy Clark, 31, 600 block Constable St., possession of methamphetamine, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Teri Nutt, 51, 600 block Constable St., possession of methamphetamine, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Shannon Leigh Ward-Redwine, 52, 100 block Timothy Dr., possession of methamphetamine.
• Justin Bailey, 35, 100 block Timothy Dr., charged on four warrants for distribution of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine). Bailey’s total bond is set at $100,000.
• Demarcus Willis, 47, 500 block W. Marshall St., charged on three warrants for distribution of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine). His total bond is set at $90,000.
• Chasion Chism, 34, 100 block Timothy Dr., possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the Chief, detectives of the MPD Criminal Investigation Division are already familiar with the Marshall St. location. Investigators are still looking into the murder of a Minden man, Daniel Merritt, whose body was discovered buried in a wooded area behind the residence.
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.
