A burglary report ended in four Miller Road residents' arrests Thursday after police uncovered nearly four pounds of marijuana inside the home, according to court testimony.
Zachary Washington, Eluirra Strzelec, Michael Bates and Jermaine Cunningham faced intent to distribute marijuana and possession of drug related object charges during a Friday morning Recorder's Court hearing.
Strzelec, 33, and Cunningham, 26, greeted officers when they responded to a burglary report Thursday. Cunningham told officers that two men in white masks had threatened them with a gun before officers arrived.
Meanwhile, another officer responding to the scene greeted Bates, 29, and Washington, 30, both of whom were returning to the address. Bates told the officer that Washington, the primary occupant of the Miller Road house, allowed him to move in after he left Florida, provided he could find work. Bates was in the process of moving his stuff in when the burglary was reported.
Police gained permission from Washington to search the residence. Inside, they found between 15 and 20 burned marijuana blunts on the coffee table. A black bag with three pounds of marijuana was found in the refrigerator. Scales, grinders and smaller packages of marijuana were found throughout the house.
The total amount of marijuana found was just under four pounds. It was valued at about $17,000.
Although all four denied possession of the drug when they were arrested, Washington later claimed the narcotic. He also told the court that Cunningham, who had lived with him for a year, had smoked with him. Due to the confession, Washington's and Bates' marijuana charges were dropped.
Judge Michael Cielinski set Cunningham's and Washington's bond at $36,000. Bates' and Strzelec's bond was set at $1,000.
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