Police seize large amount of heroin and suspected dealer

PETERSBURG – Local, regional and federal law enforcement officers seized around $75,000 worth of heroin last Thursday after arresting Christafur Morrell, 19, of Des Moines, Wash. on multiple felony charges.

Petersburg Police, Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs and the FBI arrested Morrell last Thursday in a local motel. Officers also seized around $6,000.

Police charged Morrell with Possession of Heroin with intent to distribute, Possession of Heroin and Maintaining a Dwelling used for the distribution of an illegal controlled substance.

Police said community members reported the suspicious behavior, which ultimately led to the seizure and arrest.

Morrell has no confirmed ties to Petersburg, police said.

Police Chief Kelly Swihart said Morrell has likely been in town for a few weeks and said he arrived in Petersburg on a commercial plane.

Police made first contact with Morrell at the Scandia House.

"My understanding is that it (heroin) was in a duffel bag with some clothing," Swihart said. "It looks like he was set up for wholesale distribution with some minor evidence of retail distribution."

Police seized roughly 75 grams of heroin separated into single gram packages-about the size of a sugar packet.

"We were happy to get that off the streets," Swihart said.

Although the investigation is ongoing and Swihart couldn't reveal the details, Captain John Hamilton made first contact with Morrell.

"Suffice it to say that captain Hamilton did some excellent police work and we couldn't have made that seizure without his effort," Swihart said.