Two teens have been arrested on drug-related charges after authorities found illegal narcotics in their possession.
The investigation began Thursday afternoon when Alaska State Troopers made contact with 18-year-old Dakota Benton, who troopers say had marijuana within 500 feet of the Kodiak Middle School.
“Benton was issued a citation for no vehicle insurance,” according to an AST dispatch posted Sunday, adding that troopers seized the vehicle. “And he was released on his own recognizance.”
AST applied for a search warrant of the vehicle, a 1997 Honda Civic. When it was granted, troopers say they found 17 grams of marijuana, LSD (acid), methamphetamine, Xanax, alcohol and a safe. Troopers also found over $230 and other paraphernalia in the vehicle that was “indicative of the sale and trafficking of illegal narcotics,” the dispatch says.
On Friday, troopers obtained two additional search warrants for two residences in Kodiak. While serving the search warrants, authorities made contact with Benton and a 17-year-old juvenile.
Troopers found that the 17-year-old had a “psilocybin mushroom grow operation,” along with 3.5 grams of marijuana, alcohol, a safe and more than $650. The juvenile also possessed a handgun and paraphernalia “indicative of the sale and trafficking of narcotics.”
Benton was placed under arrest and taken to the Kodiak Jail, where he was held without bail, pending arraignment. He faces the following charges: four counts of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, five counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, two counts of fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and a count of minor in possession of alcohol.
The 17-year-old was placed under arrest and remanded without bail on the following charges: second-degree theft, fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and a count of minor in possession of alcohol.
This investigation continues, troopers say, with the help of the Kodiak Police Department.