Police recover narcotics, weapons during Indiana drug raid

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Detectives from the Fort Wayne Police Department Narcotics and Gang Unit, along with FWPD Emergency Service Team recovered narcotics and weapons from multiple locations.

On the afternoon of Friday, August 19, police served a search warrant at an apartment at the 2000 block of Broadway, after they received a tip that someone was dealing drugs from this location. Police corroborated this information through investigative resources, according to a press release.

During the search, approximately 145 grams of synthetic cannabinoids known as “spice,” 6 grams of marijuana and .22 caliber revolver were recovered.

Japheth D. Sims, 28, was arrested for dealing a synthetic drug within 500 feet of a park (a level 5 felony), maintaining a common nuisance (a level 6 felony) and child endangerment (a level 6 felony).

One unnamed women was also arrested for a misdemeanor count of visiting a common nuisance. A 2-year-old boy was inside the apartment at the time of the raid.

Fort Wayne Neighborhood Code Enforcement later condemned the apartment. HIV and Hepatitis C testing were offered to those arrested during the raid.

During the raid, police found another location of interest, an apartment at the 300 block of West Dewald Street. At the location, police were given permission the search the premises. They found over 4 pounds of “spice,” and also recovered an AK-47 style .22 caliber rifle, an AR-15 style .22 caliber rifle, a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, one full Kevlar body armor, and approximately $7,000 in cash, according to the press release.

A second search warrant was obtained for a storage unit at the 5000 block of Bluffton Road. A Ruger 9mm pistol, a Lorcin .380 pistol and another full Kevlar body armor vest was recovered, according to the press release.

The investigation is ongoing and has been a collaborative effort between Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), Fort Wayne Neighborhood Code, and the Allen County Department of Health.