FARGO, ND (Valley News Live) – Nine people were arrested and four people were arrested Tuesday morning after the SWAT team, Cass County Drug Task Force and Fargo Police surrounded a home south of Fargo to obtain a high risk search warrant.
Police say they went to the home in the 900 block of 5th Street South around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26 to obtain the warrant.
A perimeter was set up and authorities tried to use a flash-bang to get people out of the house. At first, no one surrendered and the police secured the area around the house.
About an hour later, the police were able to remove the people from the house and arrest them. Four were arrested and booked into the Cass County Jail on the following charges:
Jeffery Higdem, 38, of no fixed address, was arrested on warrants for theft, possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia (Cass County) and felony hit and run (West Fargo)Ronald Chasing Bear, 33, of Moorhead, was arrested on warrants for two counts of felony domestic assault (Clay County)Jennifer Lay, 45, of Fargo, was arrested on warrants for probation violation and possession of drug paraphernalia (Cass County)Holly Parisien, 41, of Fargo, was arrested for possession of methamphetamineRonald Chasing Bear, Jennifer Fay, Jeff Higdem, Holly Parisien(Live Valley News)
This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
In less than four years, FPD says officers have responded to 169 calls for service at the home, and neighbors say big busts like the one Tuesday morning have been happening for years.
“They constantly have different people living there, moving in and out. It’s just a high-traffic area. It’s a safe haven for addicts who do criminal things, so I can see why a lot of neighbors don’t want that Briana Page said.
Page, a recovering meth addict, says she lived in the 5th St. home for months. S. and described the house as a place people use to use their drugs more than anything else.
“There’s a lot of addicts coming in and out of there,” he said.
Page says that when he woke up Tuesday morning, he wasn’t surprised to see police again end up in the house’s messy yard. She says it won’t be the last unless something changes, which she says depends on both the city and the community.
“The most important thing would be to help addicts. Help the addicts that live there and help people get in and out of there. If we as a community can support recovery, more than we support an addict as a criminal, I think a lot of things would change,” Page said.
She says she agrees that the house should be placed in the hands of different owners, but says that without giving a hand to those who find a kind of safe haven in the house on 5th St. S., the problem will just go elsewhere. part of the city
Every addict wants to be in recovery, they just need to figure out how they can help their mental health before they can help their addiction,” he said.
The City of Fargo’s Department of Inspections says it has evaluated the home and identified multiple issues related to mold, foundation and structural stability, wiring and general cleanliness and livability.
The city has now labeled the structure a “dangerous building” and has been ordered to erect a perimeter up to six feet high around the property. No one may enter the property or continue to live in the residence.
According to the City of Fargo, the homeowner has 30 days to obtain the necessary permits to improve the residence and comply with the Municipal Code.
If after 30 days these actions are still not completed, the City of Fargo Inspections Department will take the matter to the City Commission. The Commission may then consider ordering the removal of the structure within a specified time period by the owner. If the owner fails to do so, the City of Fargo has the ability to remove the structure from the property.
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