(Storm Lake)– A drug bust at a Storm Lake motel Wednesday has landed two men behind bars on felony drug charges.
An ongoing drug investigation led Storm Lake police to the AmeriHost Inn around 9:00 p.m. to serve a search warrant.
As officers attempted to open a door to one of the rooms, a suspect inside bolted and chained the door. Then, one of the suspects, 21-year-old Johnny Bandomo of Albert City, jumped through a plate glass window in an attempt to escape. He was armed with a 40-caliber handgun, but dropped it when he crashed through the window. He began running from officers, dropping packets of illegal drugs in the process. He was caught on the north side of County Road C-49 and was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
A second suspect in the motel room, 20-year-old Zachary Barron of Milford, was arrested without incident.
A search of the room turned up cocaine and methamphetamine with a street value of more than six thousand dollars. They also seized drug paraphernalia, the handgun, loaded magazines for the gun and a small amount of cash.
Bandomo and Barron are both charged with possession of meth with intent to deliver…a class “B” felony; possession of cocaine with intent to deliver…a class “C” felony; two drug-tax stamp violations…each a class “D” felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In addition, Bandomo is charged with interference with official acts using a weapon, a class “D” felony; and for carrying a weapon…an aggravated misdemeanor.
Bandomo was booked into the Buena Vista county jail with a cash bond of more than 81-thousand dollars. Barron was placed in jail on a 65-thousand dollar cash bond.
Bandomo was treated at a local hospital for injuries. No officers were injured in the incident.
(Story from Danielle Hitchings of sister station KUYY in Spencer.).
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