Police raid suspected drug house

The Monroe Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in the 500 block of South Lewis Street on Friday, Oct. 28, with assistance from the North Sound Metro SWAT team.

Seventeen people were in the residence at the time of the raid, five of whom were booked into the Snohomish County Jail on a variety of charges. A 51-year-old Monroe man and a 47-year-old Monroe woman were booked on unlawful use of a building for drug purposes, a 43-year-old woman from Auburn was booked on burglary in the second degree and a 43-year-old Sultan man and a 36-year-old man from Monroe were booked on outstanding warrants. 

The search warrant was the result of an ongoing investigation by the Monroe Police Department ProAct team, a specialized unit that targets prolific criminals involved in reoccurring crimes. Officers Scott Kornish and Nate Erdmann make up the ProAct team, which is headed up by Sgt. Ryan Irving. 

The ProAct team was actively investigating the Lewis Street home based on allegations of illegal drug activity, including sales and use of illicit narcotics. The investigation is ongoing. 

According to a news release from the Monroe Police Department, a search of the residence revealed methamphetamine, heroin and a large quantity of drug paraphernalia. 

Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas was thrilled to hear of the arrest, commending the department on social media. He specifically recognized Chief Tim Quenzer, ProAct Team leader Sgt. Irving, day shift supervisor Sgt. Rick Dunn and North Sound Metro SWAT, a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team made up of officers from different agencies in Snohomish and King counties. 

Quenzer commended his officers and thanked the community for getting involved by providing tips to the department. 

“Chief Quenzer was very happy with the efforts of the officers in this investigation and the community who gives tips and information about the apparent drug activity that is occurring at this house,” the department states in a news release.