Alva Review-Courier -

A search warrant resulted in drug charges being filed against a Cherokee resident.

Shawn Dale Sauls, 45, of Cherokee, has been charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years and/or a fine of up to $100,000.

Sauls has also been charged with two misdemeanors: knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property and possession of controlled dangerous substance (marijuana).

After receiving information from several confidential sources that Sauls who resided on South Grand Avenue was engaging in the possession and sale of illegal narcotics, Cherokee Police Chief Ryan McNeil obtained a search warrant for the residence, garage and vehicles on the property. The search was executed by members of the Cherokee Police Department and Alfalfa County Sheriff’s Department.

The following items of contraband were located and seized:

Black plastic tube containing 8.12 grams of raw marijuana, black plastic tube with unidentified crystal-like substance, marijuana grinder with residue, camo colored zipper bag containing drug paraphernalia, orange tray with rolling papers, marijuana grinder and 2.1 grams of raw marijuana, three smoking bongs with white residue, two butane torches, black holster, .22 short round, digital scale and syringe, smoking pipe and tube in black case, eyeglass case containing four used syringes, bank zipper bag containing numerous plastic baggies with residue, red and black torch, sandwich baggie containing gloves and plastic baggies, cupcake box containing three used syringes, black wood case with raw marijuana and white one hitter pipe, .22 long rifle round, black holster, black plastic case containing 5.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, small glass containing white residue, blue marijuana grinder, orange prescription bottle without label containing ten pink pills, orange prescription bottle without label containing ten yellow capsules and four pink and blue capsules, glass pipe with residue, Wicked Ridge Warrior camo colored crossbow with six bolts, Wicked Ridge Warrior crossbow bolt in backyard, white one hitter pipe.

According to the affidavit, Sauls admitted to possession of the suspected methamphetamine and stated he was addicted to the drug. He asked McNeil if he could help him because he wanted to die because of using meth. Sauls denied having possession of a firearm (as reported by a confidential source) and also denied distributing narcotics to other people. Sauls stated that the crossbow found in the garage, that was determined to be stolen out of Grant County, had been brought to the house by Kevin Gillespie within the last week. Sauls said he and Gillespie shot the crossbow in the backyard, and Gillespie left it there. Sauls denied any knowledge of where Gillespie obtained the crossbow.

Sauls’ girlfriend said she was not aware Sauls was using methamphetamine but did admit to smoking marijuana, providing McNeil with her medical marijuana card. The card had the year of expiration scraped up to make it unreadable, and a check showed the card was not valid. When questioned about the information that Sauls traded meth for marijuana on March 31, the girlfriend admitted they got marijuana from an individual but denied any knowledge about it being traded for methamphetamine. She further denied any knowledge of Sauls having a firearm.