Executive Summary
- Targeted Operation: The Lower Columbia SWAT team raided a Longview home after a month-long investigation into fentanyl sales.
- Significant Seizures: Police recovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, a stolen handgun, and suspected stolen retail merchandise.
- Criminal Nexus: Investigators suspect the recovered retail items, still in packaging, were used as currency to purchase narcotics.
- Legal Proceedings: Five individuals were booked, with bail set at $21,500 for the primary suspect and $15,000 for a secondary suspect found with the weapon.
LONGVIEW, Wash. — A narcotics investigation initiated in January culminated in a SWAT raid on a Longview residence on February 11, resulting in the arrest of five individuals and the seizure of drugs, a firearm, and suspected stolen property, according to Cowlitz County court records.
The operation, executed by the Lower Columbia SWAT team, targeted a home in the 600 block of 32nd Avenue following reports of fentanyl distribution. Investigators utilized a confidential informant to conduct three controlled purchases of fentanyl from the primary suspect, identified as Caleb Polzel, 30. Court documents state that these transactions were audio-recorded, providing the probable cause necessary to obtain a search warrant.
Upon executing the warrant, authorities detained 10 individuals at the scene. Law enforcement officials reported recovering digital scales, packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia inside the residence. Polzel, who does not own the property, was charged three days later with three counts of violating the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and one count of unlawful use of a building for drug purposes. Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Jill Karmy set his bail at $21,500.
During the search, officers also apprehended Jermaine Brown, 43, who was allegedly residing in a shed on the property. According to the arrest report, investigators discovered approximately seven grams of methamphetamine, one gram of heroin, and scales covered in white powder within the shed. Additionally, officers located a handgun believed to be stolen and a cache of new retail items, including headphones, tools, and clothing still in their original packaging or bearing store tags.
Police allege in their report that the presence of these retail goods indicates they were accepted as payment for narcotics. Brown faces charges including second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and second-degree possession of stolen property. His bail was set at $15,000, and he entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday.
Three other individuals were arrested during the operation on various outstanding warrants and new charges. Jerome Garner, 38, was booked on suspicion of third-degree theft and drug possession. Shasta Shaw, 26, identified by police as a mid-level dealer, was arrested and is serving a sentence for prior possession charges while facing additional counts. Faith Cadle, 21, was taken into custody on a Department of Corrections felony warrant.
It is important to note that all individuals named in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigative Outlook
This operation highlights a persistent operational challenge for law enforcement: the intersection of retail theft and the narcotics trade. The recovery of tagged merchandise alongside distribution-weight narcotics suggests the location may have been functioning as a fence, where stolen goods are directly exchanged for controlled substances. By targeting these nexus points, investigators aim to disrupt not only the supply of fentanyl but also the downstream property crimes often committed to fund addiction. The involvement of the Lower Columbia SWAT team underscores the elevated risk assessment associated with securing locations where firearms and distribution networks overlap.
