CENTRALIA, IL — The Centralia Police Department has been busy making drug arrests.

According to Chief Greg Dodson, around 1:45 Friday afternoon, investigators conducted a search of a known drug residence at 611 East Seventh Street in Centralia. Dodson says the residence has been the source of continuous drug trafficking complaints by area residents and for the past several months, numerous arrests have been made of subjects coming and going from the residence on foot and in vehicles during that time as well as numerous overdose calls. During their search, officers reportedly located 30 capsules of suspected Fentanyl and a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. According to Dodson, charges are being filed with the Marion County State’s Attorney against Jeremy Clark and Leanna Williams of Centralia for possession of a Controlled substance with intent to deliver within a 1,000 feet of a school.

Five other subjects who were on scene staying at the residence were also taken into custody. Two subjects were arrested on outstanding Marion and Clinton county warrants, and included 30-year-old Allan Crain, of Centralia, and 36-year-old Leanna Williams, of Hoffman were transported to the Marion and Clinton county jails respectively. Three other subjects, 21-year-old Elexis Gibson and 31-year-old Travis Wooters, both of Centralia, along with 27-year-old Richard Atchison, of Odin all were being sought by the CPD on other pending charges and were taken into custody and later released.

Dodson says the Centralia Police Code Enforcement as well as the Fire Department were called to the scene and multiple home code and fire violations were identified and written up. Fourteen people not related to each other were identified as living in this single family residence including occupying a storage shed and detached garage as a living space. The CPD is utilizing its drug house ordinance to prohibit occupancy until the residence is deemed safe to occupy.

Then on Saturday night, Centralia Police officers conducted a drug interdiction detail. Area law enforcement were initiating ‘Probable Cause’ stops of subjects coming and going from known drug trafficking locations. Investigators concentrated on the Home Motel, as the department has responded to six overdose calls there since November. Centralia Police Investigations have also received reports of Fentanyl trafficking occurring from a specific hotel room.

At approximately 8:40 p.m., an Investigator initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle returning to the motel. The driver, 26-year-old Erika Meskil and passenger 37-year-old Peter Trudo who were staying in Room #108 at the Home Motel were stopped and this lead to a search of their room, where four other subjects were detained, including  34-year-old Adam King who was found inside. King was arrested on outstanding Marion and Clinton county warrants as well as an outstanding retail theft charges.

(PETER TRUDO)

(ADAM KING)

(ERIKA MESKIL)

A subsequent search of the room lead to the discovery of over 70 suspected Fentanyl capsules, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia as well as scales and packaging materials.

Trudo and Meskil were both charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 40-year-old Justin Heern of Centralia was taken into custody from the scene and was charged with Possession of a Controlled substance

(JUSTIN HEERN)

All four subjects were transported to the Marion County Jail.

Dodson says the Centralia Police Department considers Fentanyl and its analogs as one of the most dangerous street drugs being trafficked in the community at this time, as evident by the associated overdoses and overdose deaths found in conjunction with its use. He says focusing their enforcement actions in that area is a priority for the department.