An ongoing investigation by state, county and municipal law enforcement has resulted in felony drug charges being filed against three suspects.
Raymond S. Neeser, 34, Bear Creek, is charged with felony delivery of heroin, felony drug trafficking, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of heroin with intent to deliver, possession of narcotics, felony possession of marijuana, possession of amphetamines with intent to deliver and eight counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sarah L. Cunningham, 27, New London, is charged with delivery of heroin, drug trafficking, possession of narcotics, possession of amphetamines with intent and eight counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Daniel R. Wetzel Jr., 28, Waupaca is charged with two counts of delivery of heroin, felony possession of heroin, possession of heroin, and three counts each of felony and misdemeanor bail jumping.
Wetzel is charged as a repeat offender due to a drug-related conviction in February 2012.
Neeser and Cunningham
On Tuesday, July 1, an informant working for the Waupaca Police Department met with Neeser at the Waupaca Mobil Travel Center on Fulton Street. The informant was accompanied by an undercover officer with the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force.
According to the criminal complaint, Neeser sold two half-gram bindles of heroin to the informant for $130 each.
On July 22, Special Agent Steve Lewis, with the state Division of Criminal Investigation, and New London Police Officer Nick Kamba went to Neeser’s room at the Rainbow Motel in New London.
When Neeser came to the door, Lewis said the officers wanted to question him about his drug activities. Neeser denied selling heroin, said he did not want to speak with the officers and would not allow them into his room. The officers then arrested Neeser.
Soon other officers arrived at the scene to assist with the arrest and the subsequent execution of a search warrant.
During the arrest, a woman inside Neeser’s room asked what was going on. Kamba and Lewis left Neeser in the custody of Detective Sgt. Darold Krueger, with the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, and Detective Sgt. Brian Hoelzel, with the Waupaca Police Department, and entered the room.
Kamba noticed a long, multicolored pipe sitting on a table, as well as pill bottles with no labels.
Lewis asked the woman, identified as Cunningham, for permission to search the room. According to the criminal complaint, Cunningham said her head was spinning and she wanted to speak with Neeser first.
Lewis told Cunningham that she could not speak with Neeser. She was escorted out of the room while police obtained a search warrant. Neeser and Cunningham were taken to the New London police station.
New London Police Officer Christopher Dearth searched Neeser and reported finding a knife and $324 in cash in his pocket.
Krueger and Hoelzel searched Neeser’s car and reported finding a glass pot pipe.
Officers Chase Schroeder and Nick Kamba searched the room. Kamba reported finding more than 4 grams of heroin in seven small plastic bags, narcotics and marijuana residue, as well as scales and pipes.
Schroeder found a 20-gauge shotgun and a .30-06 pump-action rifle between the mattress and the box spring of the bed.
Wetzel
On May 22, a Waupaca police informant went to Wetzel’s apartment on North Street in Waupaca.
Detectives observed Wetzel come out of his apartment building, walk to the informant’s vehicle, reach in through the driver’s window, place something into his pocket and return to his apartment.
The informant then met with Lewis, Hoelzel and Weyauwega Police Sgt. Brandon Leschke and gave them three bindles of heroin that he said he purchased from Wetzel for $135.
On Jun 25, Lewis and Leschke took Wetzel into custody. When Leschke searched Wetzel, he reported finding four bindles of heroin and $280 in cash.
When questioned by Lewis, Wetzel said he had been selling heroin for about six months and identified seven of his customers.
On Wednesday, July 23, the Waupaca police informant again purchased heroin from Wetzel, according to the criminal complaint.
In December 2013, Wetzel was charged with multiple drug-related offenses and released on a $2,500 signature bond with the condition that he not possess any illegal drugs.
He has prior felony drug-related convictions dating back to 2005. Most recently, Wetzel was convicted on delivery charges of psilosin (a psychodelic) and narcotics in February 2012. He spent a year in jail.