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(Photo by Russ Mitchell/DCN Staff)
The public first learned of the investigation on Wednesday, April 28, when Spirit Lake Police Chief Jeff Hanson released a statement.
According to Hanson, the investigation was spearheaded by the Spirit Lake Police Department and included 15 other law enforcement agencies, including those associated with the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force. The operation also involved an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent infiltrating a large network of drug and gun traffickers in the Lakes area. The case led to arrests after one of the defendants hired the undercover ATF Agent to violently assault and disfigure a local man. The individual has since been taken into Federal Protective Custody and was unharmed.
One vehicle, cash, guns and narcotics including marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine and Ecstasy (MDMA) were seized by the Spirit Lake Police Department as part of the operation.
On Friday afternoon, Hanson and Assistant County Attorney Melanie Summers Bauler revealed more details on the operation and fielded questions during a press conference held at the Dickinson County Courthouse.
Hanson explained that between 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 27 and 1 a.m. Wednesday, April 28, approximately 30 law enforcement officials pursued active warrants and cases resulting from the year-and-a-half long investigation.
The group includes a mix of males and females and all of the suspects are over the age of 18, according to the police chief.
Hanson also explained why the term "Broken Arrow" was used as the code for the operation.
"People in the Lakes area have had to deal with the direct and indirect effects of illegal gun and drug trafficking for too long," he said. "The term 'Broken Arrow' is a military terminology given when calling all available assets to deal with a bad situation overrun by the enemy."
Summers Bauler noted that, in addition to the initial 25 individuals charged as of press time, "more arrests are anticipated" in the case.
Both Hanson and Summers Bauler agreed that the size and extent of the investigation was virtually unrivaled by anything they had seen prior in their careers in Dickinson County.
"I've been with the Spirit Lake Police Department for 23 years in June and this is probably one of the largest drug investigations that the Spirit Lake Police department has ever seen, and I know it's one of the largest ones that I've been involved in."
According to Summers Bauler, those individuals charged in conjunction with the arrests "on or around April 27" in Dickinson County will likely have trial information filed by 3 p.m. this Friday, May 7, eliminating the need for a pre-trail hearing.
"After that, a hearing date will be set, and from there, the defendants will have a chance to plead guilty or not guilty and a trial date will be set," she said.
After the May 7 filling, the names of those charged will become a matter of public record.
At the press conference, Summers Bauler and Hanson explained their reluctance to release the names of those charged in connection with the Broken Arrow investigation.
"As we have said, the investigation is ongoing -- we have not finished yet," Summers Bauler said. "To protect law enforcement agents and the public in general is always our concern, and that's why we cannot divulge those names."
Still, Summers Bauler is optimistic the result of the investigation is already visible in the community.
"We're hopeful that we made a very large dent in the drug trafficking in this area," she said. "(Is it) completely eradicated? We couldn't say that, but it's a very big step forward trying to get rid of the drug trafficking here in the Lakes area."
Comments
Great Job! It's about time. It would be helpfull if you listed the people arrested so we'd know who they are. Also then people could let you know if you missed anyone. It's sad how bad drugs have become in the Lakes area. Dealing drugs seems to have become a easy job for many people in the park area and we are grateful to finally have someone doing somethink about it. Great Job Hansen & Spirit lake police ! Keep up the good work!
Ok hold on before you start some witch hunt here SPIRITLAKE MOM. what do you mean you want to know these peoples names? Your concern should be get as far away from these people as possible. Lets be honest You just want to have something to talk about. Then you say people could let the police dept know if they missed anyone. So basically your saying your going to give kids names to police that are rumored to smoke pot around spirit lake high shcool. You are not a detective!
Sadly neither are the local DCI but you're correct Joshtarte there are already too many vigilantes in Spirit Lake.