On Nov. 25 at approximately 11:10 p.m. officers of the Merrill Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for bearing a license plate not associated with the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle initially produced a false name, but she was known to be Cassiopia Conlin, 23, of Merrill. Conlin was known to have two warrants for her arrest and was subsequently taken into custody.
A Wausau Police Department K-9 officer was requested to assist at the stop location and subsequently gave a positive indication of the presence of contraband inside the suspect vehicle. A search of the vehicle located multiple items involved with the use and distribution of drugs including a large amount of methamphetamine, heroin and LSD. Some of these items were in the possession of the other vehicle occupants, Jimmie Joannon, 38, of Merrill, and Danny Hanson, 49, of Wausau. The vehicle occupants were arrested at that time as well. The vehicle and items of contraband were seized and impounded.
A search warrant for Conlin’s and Joannan’s residence at 510 1/2 N. State St. #B in Merrill was obtained and later executed with officers of the Merrill Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. The residence was found to be littered with items connected in the use and distribution of controlled substances. Additionally, a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle initially impounded from the traffic stop. A subsequent search of the vehicle located an object with a hidden storage compartment containing a large amount of methamphetamine.
According to a statement from Merrill Police, the total quantity of substances seized in this arrest and investigation are: 84 grams of methamphetamine, <3 grams of heroin and <1 gram of LSD. All three suspects will be charged with a variety of offenses to include possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver LSD, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of controlled substances and felony and misdemeanor bail jumping, as well as “party to the crime” of those offenses. They appeared in Lincoln County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon. Hanson was held on a $20,000 cash bond, while Conlin and Joannon were each held on $7,500 cash bonds. All three are scheduled to appear on court again on Dec. 6.