By NATE KING
Salina Post
A Salina Police Department (SPD) SWAT operation tied to a Topeka Police Department (TPD) homicide investigation led to the discovery of a significant amount of drugs, including MDMA and marijuana.
On November 11, SPD's SWAT team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of North College in Salina at the request of the TPD, which is investigating a homicide that occurred in its jurisdiction.
"While they were serving the search warrant, they came across suspected drugs, so we applied for a search warrant for the drugs, and during our investigation and search of the residence, we did locate drugs that were consistent with the distribution of drugs," Feldman said.
SPD found packaging materials alongside more than a pound of marijuana and approximately 1,000 pills of suspected MDMA or ecstasy. SPD arrested Damari Owens, 19, of Salina. He is facing charges including possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (marijuana and MDMA), possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, no Kansas drug tax stamp, and endangering a child.
Feldman said the requested charge of child endangerment was added after SPD discovered a two-year-old child was living in the room where the drugs were found.
The initial search warrant, requested by TPD, for the North College Avenue residence is connected to a reported homicide that occurred in Topeka earlier this week.
On Sunday, November 10, at around 9 a.m., TPD officers responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Huntoon Street in Topeka. Upon arrival, two individuals were located with life-threatening injuries. One was pronounced deceased on scene by medical personnel, and the other was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
According to a statement from TPD, this marks the 17th homicide investigation of 2024. TPD has not said whether or not Owens is a suspect in the ongoing Topeka homicide investigation.
Salina Post will update this story as new information becomes available.