Two more Cañon City men have been arrested in connection with what Cañon City Police Lt. John Schick is calling “one of the largest and most deadly illegal drug busts in the last decade or more “.
According to a news release issued by the Cañon City Police Department, an officer was dispatched to 260 Justice Center Road, Apt. B204, on April 2 for a report of a person not breathing. Upon arrival, an individual was found to have overdosed on fentanyl and was transported to St. Thomas More.
CCPD narcotics detectives were notified and responded to the scene. After an initial investigation, a search warrant was executed that led to the seizure of two firearms, one of which was reported stolen in Colorado Springs, approximately 112.1 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 4.1 grams of heroin, about 2,000 fentanyl pills, which weighed approximately 258.7 grams in their package, and $20.
Cañon City man who took plea deal in murder case arrested in major drug bust
Detectives collected latent fingerprints from the unclaimed amounts of distribution narcotics in the apartment. After a CBI analysis, the fingerprints on the plastic bags containing fentanyl were found to be those of a 36-year-old man. Robert Broman. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for two counts of unlawful distribution, special felon and unlawful possession.
“We were very concerned, given his recent history of being charged with murder,” Schick said during Monday’s town hall meeting where he recognized the detectives for their work.
On Dec. 12, Broman accepted a plea deal offered by the district attorney’s office in which he pleaded guilty to third-degree assault in exchange for a one-year prison sentence in connection with in the shooting death of Christopher Erinn Robb, 41, in November. February 14, 2021. Remaining charges of second-degree murder, criminal threatening and possession of a weapon by a prior felon were dropped.
He was released on January 30 for time served: 441 days.
On April 11, Broman was located in the 300 block of US 50 and taken into custody by CCPD detectives, CBI agents and US Marshals for the April 2 drug seizure.
CCPD detectives, CBI agents and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants for the vehicle he was in at the time of his arrest and for an apartment at 1509 Elm, Apt. 4.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 1,802 fentanyl pills, approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine, $90 in cash and a firearm.
At the apartment, approximately 7,492 fentanyl pills, three firearms, approximately 17.6 grams of methamphetamine, 1.1 grams of heroin and $5,417 were seized.
In total, they have been confiscated:
-11,302 fentanyl pills with a wholesale value (0.30 per pill) of $3,390 (Arizona) with a commercial value – ($10 per pill) in southern Colorado of $113,020
-Approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $520
-About (129.7) grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $5,188
-Approximately (5.2) grams of heroin with a street value of $208
-6 firearms
-$5,507
As of April 13, Broman was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $10,000 cash/surety bond. He was later released.
On the date of the original seizure, CCPD narcotics detectives continued this investigation and discovered two more individuals suspected of being involved in the illicit trafficking of narcotics, namely fentanyl pills, in large amounts
Armed with this information, CCPD detectives and CBI officers obtained additional arrest warrants.
On Monday, Broman was arrested in the 1500 block of Elm Avenue for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute more than 50 grams, a drug offense 1, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, a drug offense 2, special offender, a drug offense 1. , and conspiracy to commit a drug offense 2.
After Broman’s arrest here in Fremont County, detectives learned that accomplices, Jamey LaFoe31 i Other Dean35, had been arrested and was being held in Hays, Kansas, after being pulled over on April 15 with about 2,000 fentanyl pills and a firearm.
LaFoe and Deanda have been served warrants out of Colorado and remain in the custody of Kansas authorities.
Each of those defendants is being held on $250,000 cash-only bail and LaFoe and Deanda remain in custody with authorities in Kansas facing criminal charges there.
CCPD Commander Elliott VanDyke said the CCPD and the CBI will seek the extradition of LaFoe and Deanda when necessary.
The investigation into the case remains active.
On Monday, Schick acknowledged two CCPD narcotics detectives, who he asked not to be named, who made the arrest on April 11 as a result of a fentanyl overdose investigation.
“I can’t put into words how many lives these detectives were able to save,” Schick said. “There’s no way to measure them now that we have these things off the street.”
