KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — A search warrant at a Rathdrum home led to one arrest and multiple children placed into protective custody on Friday afternoon.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement executed the search warrant at a home on West Crenshaw Street around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 31. The warrant was part of a drug trafficking investigation.
Detectives arrested 61-year-old James M. Pond of Rathdrum when a crack cocaine manufacturing setup was found inside the home. The search also uncovered powder cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, over two pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, multiple guns, ammunition, drug distribution materials and cash.
Pond was booked into Kootenai County Jail for manufacturing crack cocaine, possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and hydrocodone, and possession with intent to deliver psilocybin mushrooms.
During the search, detectives also found a family with three children living in a shed behind the house. The Rathdrum Police Department responded and started a child abuse investigation.
The three children were placed into the custody of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The parents of the children were given summons for child abuse.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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