WJJQ LOCAL NEWS
Garbage leads to three drug arrests

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Law enforcement used garbage to help arrest 3 in Merrill.

Police found evidence in the trash outside a Merrill home that led prosecutors Tuesday to charge George Hill, Melissa Lemke and LeAnna Wells with possession of methamphetamine and possession of the narcotic morphine.

The judge ruled yesterday the three can be released on a $5,000 signature bond, but they cannot leave the county without a judge's approval. Both Lemke and Wells must obey an overnight home curfew.

Police went through bags of trash put on the curb at Wells' home each week in September and found empty syringes, empty prescription pill bottles, plastic baggies used to package illegal drugs and tinfoil “follies” used to ingest both meth and heroin.

Police applied for a search warrant using the contraband they found. They executed Monday at the home and found similar evidence, including syringes, morphine pills and other drug paraphernalia. The search warrant was included in court documents made public Tuesday.

Return to:  Local News