Police Chief Eric Winstrom minced no words about the danger of the drugs his officers got off the streets.
“This was a disaster of epic proportions waiting to happen.”
After a months-long investigation by Grand Rapids vice detectives, officers served search warrants in the city and in Grandville, confiscating 250 grams of black tar heroin and 500 grams of pure fentanyl from an apartment in a complex on Wimbledon Drive.
Deputy Chief Michael Maycroft said it’s the largest amount of fentanyl ever seized in Grand Rapids, emphasizing that the possible harm to the community could have been immense.
“This much fentanyl had the potential to kill every resident in the city of Grand Rapids and in Grandville, up to 250,000 people.”
53-year-old Darrell Mitchell of Grandville was arrested on a charge of possession with intent to deliver.
Mitchell previously served 17 years in federal prison on drug charges and was released just over a year ago.
Chief Winstrom said the current investigation is ongoing and there is the potential for more arrests.
Overdose Data for the City of Grand Rapids:
· 39 fatal drug overdoses in 2023.
· Approximately 30 drug overdoses in 2024.
· Toxicology results show nearly 75% of these overdoses are fentanyl related.
· GRPD has responded to 180 non-fatal overdoses in the last two years. These are just those reported to police. The actual number is believed to be significantly higher in our community.
· GRPD officers administered Naloxone (Narcan) approximately 40 times in 2024.
