Drug Call

On September 6th, police were alerted to potential drug activity at an apartment at 408 E. Fairlane Drive. As a search warrant for the residence was being prepared, a man and a woman were seen exiting the apartment. They were detained and during the officers’ interaction with these two individuals, the male stood up and ran southwest from the scene. Officers pursued and quickly formed a perimeter around the area in an effort to contain the subject. In the meantime, police made contact with a resident of the apartment, identified as 23-year-old Darian Chargingcloud of Rapid City. She was escorted outside and placed with another officer. Police then entered the apartment to perform a security sweep of the residence. While inside, officers located known parole absconder Charles Merrival (age 25 of Rapid City) inside on a couch. He was placed in handcuffs and brought outside. A search of Merrival’s person turned up a glass pipe with residue which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Police later located a loaded pistol on the same couch Merrival was located. Merrival was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Ingestion of a Controlled Substance, Commission of a Felony with a Firearm, and a Parole Violation. Inside the house, officers located numerous drug related items, to include a digital scale testing positive for methamphetamine and several used jeweler’s baggies. Following a urinalysis which field-tested positive for methamphetamine and THC, Chargingcloud was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Ingestion of a Controlled Substance, and Ingestion of a Substance Other than Alcohol to Intoxicate. The suspect who ran from police was not located. Before he ran, he was positively identified and police continue to work to track him down.