One man is in custody, facing multiple felony charges after a package was delivered to the wrong address.
According to an affidavit for warrant of arrest filed July 21 in Fulton County Circuit Court, on July 19, Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose was contacted by a woman who stated a package had been sent to the residence next door accidentally.
The occupant of the residence opened the package, but realized it was not meant for them after seeing the address label.
The package was returned to the home of the woman who made the report however, when the resident opened the package, they found puzzle box which contained a black bag wrapped in foil full of blue pills.
The woman stated her son was in prison and his mail was to be forwarded to her address, however; those nearby knew he was currently incarcerated.
The items were placed back in the box and Rose was contacted. Rose contacted Fulton County Sheriff Department Investigator Blair Ables regarding the incident.
Authorities began looking into the residents located at a home on Wolf Hollow Circle and an anticipatory search warrant was obtained.
A special agent with the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force then went to the residence where the package was initially supposed to be delivered.
The investigator was met by 33-year-old Dustin Shoemake who accepted the package and stated he had been waiting on it.
The agent then identified himself and detained Shoemake who actively resisted and was later restrained without incident.
As other authorities arrived on scene to conduct the search warrant, a second individual in the home was detained.
A search of the residence and property yielded large quantities of drugs and drug paraphernalia including methamphetamine and suspected fentanyl.
In speaking with the second individual, authorities were told the person did not know much of Shoemake’s activities, but packages did arrive in the mail.
The individual told authorities Shoemake did not open the packages in front of them and often times, when they return from work, the packages are no longer at the residence.
The two said they rented the residence from Jerry Clements.
Shoemake was asked what he could tell officers about the fentanyl coming to the address at which time Shoemake stated he didn’t know it was fentanyl.
Shoemake said packages have been dropped off in the past and left on the porch noting there have been other people come and go taking the packages that have been delivered there in the past.
As a result, Shoemake has been charged with possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, a class B felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a class D felony; possession of a schedule IV or schedule V with purpose to deliver, a class D felony; trafficking a controlled substance, fentanyl, a class Y felony; possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with purpose to deliver, a class D felony and controlled substance, a class C felony.
Bond for Shoemake was set at $70,000.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
