Local News 1 September 2017

Detectives Disrupt Crack Cocaine Trafficking Group in Benton Harbor

Southwest Enforcement Team-West Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: 08-28-17

On Monday, 8-28-17, SWET-West detectives along with members of the Berrien County Sheriff Department executed a search warrant for illegal narcotics at 330 Walnut Ave., in the Township of Benton . This search warrant was a result of an ongoing investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine. SWET-West Detectives seized several grams of crack-cocaine, a quarter pound of marijuana, a hand gun, and several hundred dollars in U.S. Currency from the property.

Roger Lee Barney, Jr. (38 years old) was arrested and arraigned in Berrien 5Th District court on possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, maintaining a drug house, possession of a firearm by a felon, and felony firearms.

The Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET) is comprised of sworn law enforcement personnel from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo Township Police Department, South Haven Police Department, Covert Police Department, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.

SWET is funded in part by the Michigan HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, Byrne JAG grant.

“This project was supported by Byrne JAG grant #2013-MU-BX0051 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan State Police (MSP). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the MSP or DOJ”