Executive Summary
- Two men from Willmar, Minnesota, face felony drug charges following a police raid on a residence last week.
- Authorities discovered over 21 grams of methamphetamine, a marijuana grow operation, and drug paraphernalia at the home.
- The suspects face enhanced charges due to the residence’s location less than a block from a city park.
WILLMAR, Minnesota – Two men face multiple felony drug charges after law enforcement executed a search warrant last week at a Willmar residence near a city park, uncovering methamphetamine, a marijuana grow operation, and drug paraphernalia. Joel Gomez, 44, and Joshua Lee Hanson, 43, were arrested following the raid on Thursday.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities conducted a search at a home on 27th Avenue SW. Inside, they found several adults, including Gomez and Hanson, along with a 14-year-old boy. Hanson was immediately taken into custody on separate active arrest warrants.
The search revealed an indoor marijuana cultivation operation in the garage with eight plants. In a basement bedroom identified as Hanson’s, agents reportedly found a vial and a glass pipe containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The complaint also noted that a playpen for a small child was present in a main floor bedroom.
A K9 unit searching the exterior of the property discovered a glass jar buried in a woodpile. Inside the jar, agents found eight individual baggies containing a total of 21.01 grams of methamphetamine, which authorities believe was packaged for sale. The complaint states that investigators had previously received numerous reports from neighbors about suspected drug trafficking at the location.
Due to the residence’s proximity to Southfield Park, less than one block away, both men face enhanced charges. Gomez is charged with two felony counts of third-degree drug possession, including one for possessing drugs in a park zone. His unconditional bail was set at $50,000, and his next court appearance is scheduled for November 19th.
Hanson is charged with felony third-degree drug possession in a park zone and felony storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child. He was released without bail, and his next court appearance is set for November 26th.
The investigation and subsequent arrests highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address drug trafficking in residential areas. It is important to note that all individuals named in the complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.