The La Porte County Drug Task Force (LCDTF) announced the conclusion of two long term Drug Trafficking Investigations. These investigations revealed an endless flow of Cocaine into the Laporte County Region. This Cocaine was ultimately being provided to lower level street dealers and being distributed throughout the region. Early Friday morning, members of the Laporte County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA Initiative, and members of the Michigan City Police Departments Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) executed a search warrant at a home on the South Side of Michigan City. Taken into custody was 44-year old Michigan City resident Daryl “Shotgun” Rhodes. This morning’s raid netted the seizure of suspected Cocaine, as well as Ecstasy and Marijuana.
Additionally, a significant amount of money was seized during the execution of the search warrant. Also, previously arrested and charged in this on-going investigation, on July 29th, 2019 was a 47-year old Chicago, Illinois resident Demond “Greedy” Watt. Watt was charged in this investigation with sixteen (16) Counts of Dealing in Cocaine, Level 2 and Level 3 Felonies. These sixteen (16) counts have been charged across three (3) Indiana Counties in the Northwest Indiana Region. Watt currently remains held in the LaPorte County Jail, pending future transport to both Lake and Porter Counties, to face drug charges there. On Saturday afternoon, the Honorable Judge Michael Bergerson found that probable cause existed to charge Daryl Rhodes with Dealing in Cocaine, Level 2 Felony and Dealing in Controlled Substance, also a Level 2 Felony. Rhodes is being held on a $50,000.00 Cash Bond. These arrests resulted in the disruption of a Cocaine pipeline into the Northwest Indiana Region and more specifically, significantly thwart’s the flow of Cocaine into Laporte County, and the streets of both Michigan City and Laporte. The disruption of this Drug Trafficking Organization will stop the trafficking of kilograms of Cocaine into our region, on a weekly basis. Additional members of this organization will be charged with drug crimes in the coming weeks and months. This investigation remains ongoing. Both the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Merrillville, Indiana Resident Offices assisted in these investigations.