By Seth Boyes,
A group of nine individuals were taken into custody on drug charges the day before Thanksgiving, according to information released Monday by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office executed a search warrant during a traffic stop at approximately 1:45 p.m. that day in the 300 block of South Maryville Street in Calmar, after what law enforcement called a lengthy investigation. Court records said authorities discovered 21-year-old Ckaiden Dean Nelson-Coonradt of Elmore, Minnesota, had been distributing controlled substances in Winneshiek County and was in Calmar the afternoon of Nov. 27, along with 26-year-old Tyler James Westcott of West Union. A criminal complaint filed in the case said more than 300 grams of bud marijuana, 200 grams of THC wax and more than 100 THC cartridges were discovered inside the vehicle Nelson-Coonradt was driving. He was also found to be in possession of almost $1,200 cash.
The sheriff’s office said Nelson-Coonradt and Westcott were charged with controlled substance violation and failure to affix a drug tax stamp — both Class D felonies. Nelson-Coonradt was booked into the Winneshiek County Jail at 2:26 p.m. that day, and Westcott was booked into the jail four minutes later.
Authorities said the case remains under investigation.
The sheriff’s office also executed another search warrant less than five hours later at a residence in the 2200 block of Highway 9 west of Decorah. Investigators found approximately 2 pounds of marijuana as well as other THC products in the basement of the building, according to court documents. Criminal complaints filed against occupants of the home said authorities found “a child’s sippy cup and children’s toys on the floor” near the drugs and “nine juvenile children were located in the residence at the time” — one resident was “located in the basement holding one of his two children under the age of 3,” according to court documents, and another residents’ wallet was found in the basement “with his identification out, which appeared to be used to cut the product.”
Court records said at least one resident “made admissions to purchasing the drugs from the defendant, Ckaiden Coonradt, and had been purchasing from Coonradt for approximately one year,” a criminal complaint said.
A total of eight individuals were charged following the search — one of them being Nelson-Coonradt, who was already in custody.
Nelson-Coonradt and 31-year-old Zachary Alan Sorenson of Decorah were both charged with intent to distribute marijuana — a Class D felony. Sorenson was additionally charged with failure to affix a drug tax stamp and intent to distribute marijuana — both Class D felonies — as well as child endangerment and gathering where marijuana is being used — both misdemeanors.
The sheriff’s office also said 29-year-old Ashleigh Ann Sorenson of Decorah, 26-year-old Devan Patrick Forbes of Manchester, 26-year-old Luke D. Price of Decorah, 36-year-old Lexus Briann Six of Decorah and 25-year-old Tyler John Dozark of Decorah were each charged with possession of marijuana — first offense — while 28-year-old Jacob Wayne Willitts of New Hampton was charged with possession of a controlled substance — third or subsequent offense.
“Jacob has numerous prior drug convictions as well as a conviction for the possession of methamphetamine,” a criminal complaint in the case said.
The individuals at the Highway 9 residence were booked into the Winneshiek County Jail between approximately 7:35 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. the same day.
That investigation also remains open, the sheriff’s office said, with additional search warrants, arrests and charges pending.
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