(Emmetsburg)—A 20-month drug investigation by the Palo Alto, Emmet and Jackson County Sheriff’s Offices has resulted in the arrests of several people on various drug-related charges.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office has charged 47-year-old Michael Kesterson of Mallard with delivery of a controlled substance…methamphetamine…within a thousand feet of the Graettinger school; and delivery of methamphetamine at a location near Emmetsburg.
Kesterson was arrested on the warrant back on December 7th in Emmetsburg, when he was charged with an additional count of possession of a controlled substance.
Dawn Kruse of Mallard was also arrested along with 41-year-old Timothy Moritz of Arnolds Park. They were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Kesterson was booked into the Palo Alto county jail on 13-thousand dollars bond; Kruse was booked into the Emmet county jail also on a 13-thousand dollar bond; Moritz was released pending a court appearance.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Emmetsburg Police Department and agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Kesterson and Kruse have also been charged by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office with delivery of a controlled substance within a thousand feet of a school in Estherville; and 38-year-old Wayne Stevens of Alta was charged with delivery of a controlled substance at a location in Emmet county.
Stevens was arrested on the warrant at his home Thursday, where he was found to be in possession of what’s alleged to be a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Stevens, who also faces charges in Buena Vista county, was booked into the Emmet county jail on 13-thousand dollars bond.
The delivery charges are class “C” felonies that carry 10 year prison terms and the school enhancements are a mandatory five years in prison.
Authorities say their investigation continues and more arrests are expected.
