SIOUX FALLS - Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel announced a major drug bust which had been made on last Wednesday afternoon in the Southwest part of Sioux Falls. Police were called to a hotel in the area when employees became suspicious after a female suspect tried to return to a room which she had rented the night before, saying that she had left some money in the room and tried to claim it. The room had already been rented to another guest and the alert employees of the hotel notified police about the suspicious activity.

When police arrived and received consent to search the room from the current guest, they found $87,340 in cash packaged in various amounts and in plastic bags. Upon further investigation, officers determined what kind of a vehicle the suspect, Regina Rae Johnson of Sioux Falls, was driving. Patrol officers spotted the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop of Johnson’s 1998 Isuzu Rodeo in the 2500 block of South Shirley Avenue at approximately 1:00 pm on Wednesday afternoon.

During the course of the stop, K-9 units hit on the back of the vehicle and upon further search, officers found over 8 pounds of methamphetamine packaged inside PVC piping which was painted in a camouflage color. Upon further search of her residence in the 1400 block of East 61st Street North, officers found additional cash, drugs and drug paraphernalia.

“This was the biggest methamphetamine bust in the history of the city of Sioux Falls” Chief Barthel said, praising the efforts of all who were involved in making the arrests.

Three people were lodged after the bust. Johnson was lodged at the Minnehaha County jail on charges of distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of Marijuana less than 2 oz., and possession of paraphernalia. Robert Raymond Jackson, 42 of Sioux Falls was arrested during the traffic stop on the same charges Johnson had. Her son, 19-year-old Austin Jon Dalstead of Sioux Falls was also arrested on the same charges and an additional one of maintaining a place where drugs are sold when he was arrested at the home which he shared with his mother.

The investigation is still ongoing and police say that more arrests could come as it continues.

Drug Arrest, March 27, 2013
Tea Storm Chasers/KSOO-AM
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Drug Arrest, March 27, 2013
Tea Storm Chasers/KSOO-AM
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