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Last updated on Monday, July 16, 2012
(BLOOMINGTON) - A Bloomington man was arrested Thursday night in connection with the drug bust at Southern Winds Inn, bringing the total number of people facing charges after Wednesday’s early morning raid of the motel to 12.
The arrests followed a three-month long drug investigation focused on the southside motel.
Bloomington police arrested Marlon Champagnie, 38, on charges of dealing cocaine. He was booked into Monroe County Jail at 10:15 p.m. Thursday, where he remained Friday on a $40,000 surety, $500 cash bond.
Champagnie's jail booking sheet gives a 3033 Acadia Court address. Bloomington police believe he may have been staying in apartment 6, one of the four apartments at the motel police served search warrants early Wednesday, according to Lt. Bill Parker.
"He was one that we had a warrant for on three counts of dealing cocaine based on our ongoing investigation," Parker said.
A detective spotted Champagnie driving a white Ford Escort at Henderson Street and Winslow Road about 9:15 p.m. Thursday. This detective called for back up, and officers conducted a traffic stop at the 2400 block of South Walnut Street Pike.
Champagnie did not resist arrest. Police did not find any drugs in his possession. Another man was also in the car with Champagnie, and he was released by police, Parker said.
Champagnie's arrest comes after Bloomington police drug investigators, detectives, uniformed officers and members of the Critical Incident Response Team went to the Southern Winds Inn, 3000 S. Walnut St., at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday to serve search warrants at four rooms - 6, 36, 40 and 56.
Police seized 40 to 50 grams of cocaine and 40 grams of heroin, with a street value of almost $20,000, a 9mm Ruger handgun and $5,100 in cash. Police estimate dealing the drugs would have netted an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 a week.
Investigators surveying the motel in the past few weeks saw one suspect with as many as three weapons and lines of people outside of the apartments involved in the drug dealing. The complex was active at night by those seeking crack cocaine and heroin, according to an earlier press release from Capt. Joe Qualters.
The following people were arrested Wednesday by Bloomington police on felony charges in connection with the drug investigation:
* Larry D. "Frog" Johnson, 42, of Battle Creek, Mich., on charges of dealing heroin, possession of heroin with intent to deal, possession of cocaine with intent to deal and being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm. He remained at the jail Friday on a $100,000 surety, $10,000 cash bond.
* Nicole D. Berry, 33, Shalom Center, on three charges of dealing cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. She remained at the jail Friday on a $50,000 surety, $5,000 cash bond.
* Dwayne J. Fredrick, 20, of Detroit, on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to deal and possession of heroin with intent to deal. He remained at the jail Friday on a $100,000 surety, $10,000 cash bond.
* Ray C. Fredrick, 35, of Battle Creek, Mich., on two charges of dealing cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to deal and possession of heroin with intent to deal. He remained at the jail Friday on a $100,000 surety, $10,000 cash bond.
* William C. "Bones" Holloway, 26, of Detroit, on a charge of dealing heroin. He remained at the jail Friday on a $50,000 surety, $5,000 cash bond.
Six other women and men were arrested by police on misdemeanor charges of visiting a common nuisance in connection with the drug investigation. By Friday afternoon, all but one had been released from the jail on their own recognizance.
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