HAWKEYE — A Northern Iowa home allegedly serving as a drug hangout was raided by the law late Wednesday after deputies tracked down a wanted felon and reportedly found him actively using controlled substances.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received information at about 10:30 p.m. September 10 that wanted suspect Jermaine Whittney Dawson, 45, of Burlington, was staying at 340 Pearl Street in Hawkeye.
Deputies moved in, confirmed Dawson was there and made contact with him.
Authorities said Dawson was actively using controlled substances when deputies arrived.
He was immediately nabbed on a Lee County warrant for probation violation stemming from an original felony possession of a controlled substance charge. Bond on that warrant was set at $5,000.
But the arrest quickly turned into something bigger.
While taking Dawson into custody, deputies allegedly spotted illegal items sitting in plain view inside the home.
That prompted investigators to seek a search warrant.
The warrant was granted, the house was raided, and deputies said the search turned up methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Dawson was then hit with a stack of new charges.
He was charged with possession of methamphetamine, third offense; possession of marijuana, third offense; and gathering where controlled substances are used involving methamphetamine. All three are Class D felonies.
Dawson was also charged with gathering where controlled substances are used involving marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanor offenses.
A second suspect was also nabbed.
Jessica Lees, 41, of Hawkeye, was charged with gathering where controlled substances are used involving methamphetamine, a Class D felony.
She was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, second offense, and possession of marijuana, second offense, both aggravated misdemeanors.
Lees additionally faces gathering where controlled substances are used involving marijuana, a serious misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
Dawson and Lees were hauled to the Fayette County Jail to await initial appearances.
The bust came just one day after another Northern Iowa drug raid, when Oelwein police raided a home and allegedly seized methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Fayette County authorities have carried out similar raids before, including a case in which two suspects were nabbed after deputies allegedly uncovered methamphetamine and marijuana inside another Northern Iowa home.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
