Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman announced Thursday the successful execution of a coordinated operation that resulted in the arrest of three men and the seizure of a nearly half pound of heroin and AR rifles. The Marshall County Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team (UNIT), in conjunction with the Marshall County Prosecutors’ Office was assisted by investigators from the Indiana State Police, and the ISP Emergency Response Team (ERT), Elkhart ICE, Marshall County Police Department, and the Elkhart County Prosecutors’ Office. The arrests were initiated as a result of allegations raised from a lengthy investigation.
Arrested were Demitrie Davis, 26, of Mishawaka;
Edward Webb, 25, of South Bend; and,
Daniel Ortiz, 38, of an Elkhart address. Davis was booked into the Marshall County Jail on a preliminary charge of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug in an amount of at least 10 grams, Level 2 felony. Webb was booked on a preliminary charge of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug in an amount of at least 10 grams, Level 2 felony. Ortiz was booked on two counts of Dealing Methamphetamine, both Level 2 felonies; one count of Possession of Methamphetamine as a Level 3 and one count of Possession of Meth as a Level 4; and one count of Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Level 6 felony. Several of the counts involve allegations of enhancement alleging the presence of firearms and on occasion, the presence of children and in the location of a park.
The arrest of Webb and Davis occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a LaPaz restaurant along old Michigan Road. UNIT officers were armed with a St. Joseph County arrest warrant for Webb. Davis was in the vehicle as well. It is alleged that a quantity of heroin was located in the vehicle along with an AR 22 rifle.
The arrest of Ortiz occurred at a house in Elkhart under the auspices of a search warrant issued by an Elkhart County judge. A second search warrant was obtained based upon information developed upon the initial search and Ortiz was taken into custody. It is alleged that close to a half pound of heroin was found at the house Ortiz was located in, as well as an AR 15 rifle.
Affidavits for probable cause to secure arrest warrants on both Ortiz and Webb were filed in Marshall Superior Court 1. Arrest warrants were approved by Judge Robert O. Bowen and bond has been set for Webb in the total amount of $300,000, which includes $100,000 bond set for Webb based upon an affidavit of probable cause filed today alleging a sale of methamphetamine on August 28.
Ortiz’s bond was set at $250,000 on each of two different counts alleging the sale of methamphetamine, and $100,000 on a separate charge making a total cash bond of $600,000.
Davis’ bond has been set at $100,000 based upon the allegations from last night’s arrest in LaPaz.
Readers are reminded that criminal charges are mere allegations and that the person so charged is presumed innocent of the allegations unless or until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
