Page 29 - MFM August 2015 BCD X rev b

Montana Freemason August 2015 Volume 91 Number 2

Bad Boys, Bad Boys Whatcha Gonna Do?

(Photo by John Plestina)

L - R: Wolf Point Police Chief Je Harada (and Junior Grand Warden) and Lt. Brian Erwin, Wolf
Point Police Department shown with part of the pot seizure that is believed to have been on its way to
Chicago, Ill.
Two from Chicago were both were arrested and charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous
drugs with intent to distribute. Each is free on $50,000 bond with arraignments scheduled for
Wednesday, June 24, in 15th District Court in Wolf Point.
A tra c stop Sunday, May 31, resulted in the arrests of two Chicago, Ill., area residents suspected of
attempting to smuggle more than 40 pounds of marijuana across several states and netted the Wolf
Point Police Department its largest seizure of pot. e WPPD estimates the street value between
$100,000 and $125,000.
Lt. Brian Erwin conducted the tra c stop of a SUV for a speeding violation on U.S. Hwy. 2 near the
Homestead Inn at 4:35 p.m. It became a drug interdiction when Erwin observed the male driver and
female passenger behaving suspiciously. A search warrant was secured for the SUV that had been
rented in Illinois. Police found 40.5 pounds of marijuana contained in several plastic bags inside
suitcases and du e bags.
“We intercepted a load that was headed back to the Chicago area,” Erwin said. “We suspect that they
traveled from Chicago, Ill., to the White sh area and were returning to Chicago.” “ is is a perfect
example of the aggressive proactive investigative capabilities of Lt. Erwin and the Wolf Point Police,”
WPPD chief Je Harada said. “ is drug situation is sadly occurring more o en than not. However,
with additional police personnel, it would allow us to provide more interdiction patrol e orts,” he said.

e two arrested from Chicago made initial appearances in Roosevelt County Justice Court before
Judge Tracy Harada Monday, June 1. Both were free Wednesday morning, June 3, on $50,000
bond each posted by someone from Illinois who has not been identi ed with Billings bail bonding
company Western Pawn, according to the Roosevelt County Attorney’s O ce. ey are scheduled
for arraignments with entries of pleas in 15th District Court Wednesday, June 24. Fort Peck Tribes
Department of Law and Justice o cers assisted the WPPD.

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