Four men were arrested Friday, Nov. 14 at #18 Northview Mobile Home Park in Gerald.

Gerald Police officer Joseph LaFrance (center) observes Officer Derrick Lewis (right) speaking with one of the suspects arrested during last Friday’s raid in Northview Mobile Home Park. The Franklin County Drug Task Force and Department of Family Services assisted local police.

The search warrant was issued by Franklin County authorities following a month long investigation by Gerald Chief of Police Clyde Zelch. The investigation began on Oct. 15 after items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked at the Gerald Elementary School.

A cell phone, wallet, credit cards and money was taken from the car.

The alleged thief then used the credit cards at several local businesses and forged the rightful owner’s name to the receipts. Zelch was able to track down the receipts and also video from on of the store’s security camera.

The resulting fraudulent use of credit cards and forgery led Zelch to the raid that occurred at 4:45 p.m., last Friday.

Zelch had gathered information that this location was a reported drug house and asked for assistance from the Franklin County Drug Task Force.

That agency arrived at the scene along with the Gerald Police Department. Both agencies served the warrants, four men were arrested and the home was searched.

One man was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Franklin County. Another was arrested on two outstanding warrants from Gasconade County. A third was arrested on drug-related charges. The fourth was arrested on suspected meth and marijuana possession, possession of paraphernalia including pipes and hypodermic needles, forgery and felony stealing. The last two charges stem from the Oct. 15 incident at the elementary school.

Four children were removed from the home for their protection and placed with other relatives.

It was the first cooperative effort between the GPD and the Drug Task Force in recent memory. Zelch called it a very successful evening, the culmination of a lot of good police work.