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Idaho Falls, ID – During the first two weeks of November, Idaho Falls Police Officers arrested 7 people on felony drug charges. Through these arrests, Idaho Falls Police Officers seized nearly 100 grams of methamphetamine and heroin, in addition to other illegal substances. Information regarding each of these arrests is included below.
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On November 3, shortly before 11:00 p.m., an Idaho Falls Police Officer was patrolling on Skyline Drive when he observed a vehicle that appeared suspicious. The vehicle was parked in a parking lot where no businesses in the lot were open.
The officer made contact with the driver and observed a small baggie of methamphetamine on the front passenger seat in plain view. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle and the officer observed a methamphetamine pipe on the driver’s seat where he had been sitting.
The driver was identified as Beau Whempner, a 29 year old resident of Idaho Falls. Whempner was arrested for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
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On November 4th, Idaho Falls Police Officers were investigating the theft of equipment from a Montana firefighting vehicle parked at the Super 8 Motel on Lindsey Boulevard when officers noticed a male passed out in another vehicle in the parking lot. Officers were able to observe drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle in plain view.
Officers were able to wake the man, later identified as Chad Sudweeks, and asked him to exit the vehicle. Sudweeks was placed in handcuffs and was patted down during which a handgun was found on Sudweeks’ person. Sudweeks admitted that he was on felony probation and not allowed to be in possession of a firearm.
While speaking with officers, Sudweeks admitted that there was marijuana in the vehicle and was placed in custody at that time. Officers conducted a search of Sudweeks’ person and found a baggy of a white crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamine.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located handgun ammunition and magazines, various drug paraphernalia, a scale, a baggie of marijuana, multiple baggies of white powders, and various pills. After testing and weighing the items a total of 42.5 grams (1.49 ounces) of methamphetamine was located in the vehicle and on Sudweeks’ person.
Also in the vehicle, officers located several debit/credit cards and various membership cards belonging to an individual who was not Sudweeks. These items were returned to their rightful owner.
Chad Sudweeks, a 22 year old Idaho Falls resident, was arrested for Felony Drug Trafficking of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, Felony Grand Theft, and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
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On November 6, shortly after 7:00 p.m., Idaho Falls Police Officers responded to a residence on the 400 Block of South Capital Avenue for a report of a physical disturbance in progress. Officers arrived and were able to break up the disturbance and determine that the cause of the fight stemmed from suspected drug use. One party suspected the other of drug use in front of multiple young children.
Upon investigating, Officers arrested two individuals at the residence. Shaun Gardner, a 24 year old Idaho Falls resident, was found in possession of a drug pipe and arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Teyawnna Littlebull, a 25 year old Bonneville County resident, was found in possession of 3.9 grams of methamphetamine and a drug pipe. She was arrested for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
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On November 7, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Idaho Falls Police Officers responded to the Outback Steakhouse on Lindsay Blvd for a report that a man was inside a vehicle in the parking lot that was not his. The owner of the vehicle told officers that a man had entered her vehicle and was now walking around the restaurant.
Inside the vehicle, the officers found a sweatshirt and cell phone that did not belong to the vehicle owner. The officer then located the male, who was identified as Michael Sena. Sena identified the phone as his, and the officer detained Sena in the back of his patrol vehicle at that time.
Sena had a backpack and a few other personal items with him that he had set down on the ground prior to speaking with the officer. Included in those items was 2.4 grams of heroin. Sena admitted that the heroin was his and also stated that he regularly buys heroin and shares it with others.
Michael Sena, a 38 year old Belgrade, Montana resident, was arrested for Felony Drug Trafficking and taken to the Bonneville County Jail. An additional charge of Misdemeanor Unlawful Entry is being pursued.
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On November 10, shortly before 9:30 p.m., an Idaho Falls Police Officer was patrolling on Broadway Avenue and conducted a traffic stop after the vehicle failed to signal before making a turn. The driver identified himself as Jess Ramer, and admitted that his license was suspended and that he was on probation.
Officers asked for consent to search the vehicle, and Ramer told them there was methamphetamine inside the vehicle. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located 8 grams of methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia.
Ramer was arrested for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and transported to the Bonneville County Jail.
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On November 11, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Idaho Falls Police Officers were dispatched to the Fairfield Inn on W Broadway Avenue. Callers had reported that a male was sleeping in a vehicle and they would like him trespassed from the property. When officers arrived they located the male and observed a drug pipe in plain view on the front seat.
Officers woke the male who was later identified as Cody Lodmell. Lodmell was asked to exit the vehicle where he was placed in handcuffs. While speaking with officers Lodmell admitted that the pipe had been used for methamphetamine.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle which yielded 37.1 grams of methamphetamine, as well as multiple items of drug paraphernalia.
Cody Lodmell, a 40 year old resident of Deer Lodge, Montana, was arrested for Felony Drug Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
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On Novemeber 13, shortly before 1:00 a.m., an Idaho Falls Police Officer was patrolling in the area of Broadway Street and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not have a front license plate. The front seat passenger identified himself as Alexander Anderson. The rear passenger identified herself as Tara Hamilton.
While verifying their identities, Idaho Falls Police Dispatch advised that Hamilton had an outstanding warrant and that they could not confirm Alexander Anderson’s identity, indicating that he was not being truthful with officers. Because of this, the unknown male was detained at that time.
Officers asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle and he gave consent to do so. In a backpack on the floorboard of the front passenger seat, officers found an I.D. for Andrew Giddings which was a photo match to the male who had given a false name to the officers. Inside the backpack, officers also located drug paraphernalia, and a black tar like substance that appeared to be heroin.
Giddings told officers the substance was “fake heroin” and that he intended to deliver it to another person as if it was heroin. Officers later tested and weighed the substance. It was a total of 5.6 grams but did not test positive for heroin on the presumptive test. The substance was packaged and sent to the Idaho State Lab for further testing.
Tara Hamilton, a 29 year old Rigby resident, was arrested for her Misdemeanor Warrant. Andrew Giddings, a 32 year old Idaho Falls resident, was arrested for Felony Possession of a Counterfeit Substance with Intent to Deliver, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Providing False Information to a Police Officer. Both were taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
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