Avoiding, then chatting with deputy leads to drug bust
Staff writer
A determined investigation of a suspicious late-night traveler on Indigo Rd. resulted in the arrest of a Wichita man accused of trying to deliver heroin and marijuana to a Hillsboro buyer.
Marques D. Morris, 36, Wichita, was booked into jail at 2:44 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of distributing heroin and marijuana, using a communications facility in a felony drug violation, and driving without a valid driver’s license.
At press time, he remained in jail in lieu of a $5,000 recognizance bond.
According to scanner transmissions, deputy Joel Womochil called drug dog handler Matt Regier and said, “I’ve got a car that’s trying to avoid me off of Indigo.”
The car turned into a drive near 140th Rd. to let Womochil drive past. Womochil pulled to the side of the road, and the car started again. The driver pulled up alongside Womochil and asked directions to a residence in Hillsboro.
Womochil checked the license tag and the driver’s identification. The license tag, which was expired, checked out to a white 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer registered to “Wichita Area Teen Community Health.”
Morris’s identification turned out to be a state ID card, not a license. Womochil detained Morris for not having a license.
Regier searched the vehicle, and Womochil called Hillsboro assistant police chief Randy Brazil, apparently to have him check the residence of the person Morris allegedly had been texting.
Brazil radioed back the address on S. Wilson St.
Womochil asked Brazil to check the Hillsboro property.
Brazil radioed that one car at the address had an expired tag listed to both the suspected occupants, and a second car listed to one of the occupants. Brazil then drove to join Womochil and Regier.
Two hours later, Regier radioed to say, “We located an item in the engine bay, and we’ll have additional charges.”
According to sheriff Jeff Soyez, the items located in the engine compartment were to deliver narcotics to an address in Hillsboro. The apparently intended recipients have not been arrested, but the case remains under investigation.
When Morris was being booked into jail, Womochil summoned a Marion officer to come to the jail because Morris was “beginning to get agitated.”
Soyez said the packages contained black tar heroin, usually produced in Mexico. It is dark brown or black and has a tar-like, sticky feel. It can be melted down and injected or smoked.
Soyez said deputies seized nearly 2 grams of black tar heroin, 15 grams of marijuana, and cash.
Street prices of drugs vary, but 2 grams of black tar heroin can sell for more than $1,000, while 15 grams of marijuana is worth as much as $300.