FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) – A series of traffic stops and subsequent drug arrests along Interstate 41 in Fond du Lac County has landed five men in jail.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office shared the following incidents and an image of seized counterfeit pills on Facebook on Wednesday.
TRAFFIC STOP 1
On June 28, 2022, at 1:15am, K9 Handler/Deputy Vis conducted a traffic stop for speeding, 98mph in a 70mph zone, on I41 near CTH B. During the course of the traffic stop, Deputy Vis observed packaging that contained cocaine in plain view inside the vehicle. The operator of the vehicle fled the traffic stop on foot and resisted arrest, but was apprehended after a short foot chase and Taser deployment. The Milwaukee man was arrested for drug related charges and resisting arrest, and transported to the Fond du Lac County Jail. The total weight of cocaine confiscated was 59 grams.
TRAFFIC STOP 2
On June 29, 2022, at 8:49pm, K9 Handler/Sergeant Kohlmann conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation on I41 near Lincoln Rd. During the course of the traffic stop, a K9 sniff of the exterior of the vehicle was conducted and K9 Ace alerted on the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a bag of what appeared to be Oxycodone pills in a backpack inside the vehicle, however a field test of those pills tested positive for fentanyl. A total of 1,032 counterfeit pills, laced with fentanyl and carrying a street value of approximately $40 each, were seized. Also located during the search was 27 grams of marijuana hidden in the trunk under the spare tire. Two Appleton men and one Racine man were arrested for drug related charges and transported to the Fond du Lac County Jail.
The DEA has released information that approximately 40% of the counterfeit pills they are now testing contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. Users of these counterfeit pills, who believe they are consuming the medication Oxycodone, are overdosing on the unexpected dose of fentanyl in their system.
TRAFFIC STOP 3
On June 30, 2022, at 5:45pm, Deputy Birkholz conducted a traffic stop for multiple equipment and registration violations on I41 near Lost Arrow Rd. During the course of the traffic stop, K9 Handler/Sergeant Kohlman and K9 Ace conducted sniff of the exterior of the vehicle and K9 Ace alerted on the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a bag containing 37 grams of marijuana hidden inside the trunk. The Milwaukee man driving the vehicle was arrested for both the drug violation and a probation violation, and transported to the Fond du Lac County Jail. Deputies also suspected he was concealing more illegal drugs on his person. A search of his clothing in the jail revealed a hidden pocket sewn into the crotch area of the suspect’s pants, and in the hidden pocket deputies found one bag of cocaine containing 20 individually wrapped baggies of cocaine, along with two other larger baggies of cocaine. The total weight of cocaine confiscated was 27 grams.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office says drug and addiction services are available from providers throughout Fond du Lac County and the Fox Valley, and we strongly encourage those struggling with addiction to seek out a service provider you are comfortable contacting for help. In Fond du Lac County, residents seeking help can call the Crisis Intervention Line at 920-929-3535 to speak to a service provider 24/7.
