Four arrested, three charged in Columbia for heroin distribution and possession
A search warrant at the Aspen Heights housing complex led to four arrests for drug-related charges. Three of those suspects are now charged.
Before serving the warrant, detectives reported seeing two people approach one of the apartments in a vehicle. Those two people have been identified as Katrina Greenwood, 30, and Alexander Melise, 45. Gatewood went into the apartment, and then came back out and made contact with a separate vehicle that had just arrived.
According to police, Gatewood then went back inside the apartment, and came out with Aaron George. Both got into the first vehicle, which Melise was driving, and left. At that point, police stopped that car and arrested all three people. They reported finding two empty syringes, one syringe with liquid inside, a baggie of heroin, 21 Clonazepam pills, and three baggies of brown powder.
Detectives later searched the apartment back at Aspen Heights, and reported finding heroin, methamphetamine, baggies, syringes, and an electronic scale.
Police note the amount of heroin recovered from Aaron George and inside the residence amounts to about 80 doses.
“Even though you might only hear ‘They found 6 grams inside the residence,’ that there in itself would be about 60 doses of heroin” said Bryana Larimer, CPD spokesperson. “So that combined what was found on the individual person came out to about 80 doses of heroin for any heroin user.”
While searching the apartment, Jake Lee, 24, arrived, and detectives found heroin and a syringe on him as well.
George and Gatewood have been charged with distribution and manufacture of a controlled substance. Lee has been charged with possession of a controlled substance. All three are being held in the Boone County Jail.
Melise was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, but has not yet been charged. He has since bonded out of jail.
Larimer said the getting heroin off the street is something its Vice Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit takes very seriously.
“So potentially, our detectives by issuing the search warrant and getting these suspect apprehended, they potentially saved 80 different lives.”
Police said the management of Aspen Heights was aware of the investigation and gave both support and cooperation to investigators.
CPD would not elaborate on how the apartment complex aided with the investigation. ABC 17 News reached out to Aspen Heights for comment, but hadn’t heard back as of Friday evening.
