Lake Stevens Police two in cocaine bust

Highway 9 Casino helps nab suspects After witnessing what looked like suspicious behavior, a security camera operator working at the Highway 9 Casino called the Lake Stevens Police., quickly identifying what look like a drug deal.

“Highway 9 Casino notified the police that they witnessed unfamiliar people in the parking lot conducting suspicious looking behavior,” Police Chief Randy Celori said.

At approximately 1:30 in the morning on Feb. 27, two officers from the LSPD reported to the casino to view surveillance video which showed a man and a woman in a car, allegedly selling dugs to an unidentified man who had driven up in a white van.

The couple was in the casino when the police arrived. The 51-year-old man from Mount Lake Terrace was gambling at a table while the 39-year-old woman from Snohomish was seated at the bar with a laptop computer.

After questioning both of the suspects the police placed them both under arrest and read them their Miranda Rights.

The man had over $1,800 in cash on him with 15.1 grams of cocaine. He also was found holding 1.1 grams of rock cocaine, a bottle of prescription drugs along with miscellaneous pills.

The female suspect had three grams of rock cocaine, drug paraphernalia and other assorted pills in her purse.

After impounding the suspect’s vehicle and obtaining a search warrant, police also found another 75 grams of cocaine plus 14 grams of an unknown white powder along with a scale, tubing and other drug related items.

The Lake Stevens Police officers involved in this case are fairly new police officers, both of whom handled the situation professionally.

“Both of the officers are recent academy graduates,” Celori said. “It was a significant amount of drugs they were able to take off of the streets.”

Without the help of the Highway 9 Casino, Lake Stevens Police would not have been able to apprehend the suspects.

“I would like to commend the security guard at the Highway 9 Casino for being vigilante and looking out for the safety of the public,” Celori said.
Both suspects were taken to the Snohomish County Jail and booked on felony charges for the sale of a controlled substance. The third man has not yet been identified.

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