BUCKHANNON – A 12th person was arrested Tuesday in connection with the June 5 Cooper Street drug bust and the investigation is ongoing, according to Buckhannon’s police chief.
Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory on Tuesday said the investigation related to the June 5, 2020 drug bust at 12 Cooper St. is being headed up by the Mountain Lakes Drug and Violent Crime Unit task force.
“It is an investigation by the Mountain Lakes Drug and Violent Crime Unit,” Gregory said. “I know it is a very involved investigation and it is still ongoing.”
The BPD is just one law enforcement unit involved in the task force, which spans Lewis, Braxton and Upshur counties.
Most recently, Dallas Lantz, 34, of Buckhannon, was arrested for violating the Anti-organized Criminal Enterprise Act, possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver controlled substance, all felonies.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Marshall O’Connor with the Buckhannon Police Department on June 5, 2020, officers with the Mountain Lakes Drug and Violent Crime Unit served a search warrant at 12 Cooper Street in Buckhannon.
At the time, nine subjects were detained as they were identified as tenants of the address. The search yielded multiple controlled substances along with packaging material throughout the house. Upon completion of the search, officers located multiple scales with white residue, along with multiple unused baggies, vials and containers commonly used to package, house and transport controlled substances.
Officers also located multiple small plastic bags of methamphetamine, one large bag of methamphetamine, multiple packages of marijuana, multiple unidentified pills, one small bag containing brown powder and one small bag with a “dark crushed-up rock,” the file says.
Law enforcement also located what is believed to be a ledger used to document drug transactions, along with U.S. currency.
According to the report, based on information obtained about the address, the nine individuals arrested at the time – as well as three others, including Lantz – were known to make multiple trips away from the house with what appeared to be full backpacks and they would allegedly return shortly with backpacks that were lighter than when they left.
According to the report, statements taken refer to this as “drug traffic,” and one statement said he believed the nine subjects were delivering drugs and returning to “re-up,” and delivering again.
The arresting officer also had messages that were obtained from seized phones that depict some of the detained subjects engaging in conversation involving the sale and distribution of controlled substances.
On June 5, the day the warrant was executed, Lantz was not home to be arrested, but the complaint alleges he participated in the ‘criminal enterprise’ to deliver controlled substances and allegedly conspired to do so from the same address.
Bail was set at $5,000 for a capias, $25,000 for possession with intent to deliver, $25,000 for violating the Anti-organized Criminal Enterprise Act and $25,000 for conspiracy to deliver controlled substance.
If convicted for violating the Anti-organized Criminal Enterprise Act, Lantz faces confinement for not more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $25,000 or both. Lantz could also face confinement for not less than one year nor more than five years, a fine of not more than $15,000 or both for possession with intent to deliver. Finally, Lantz could face confinement for not less than two nor more than 10 years for conspiracy to deliver controlled substance.
