Heroin, meth found in Mishawaka home during search

Four people are behind bars Thursday after heroin, meth, drug paraphernalia and currency were found in a Mishawaka home by a four unit team. 

Michael Sanchez, Austin Sanchez, Maria Hamelton and Ronald Mayerski are facing preliminary charges after the search warrant execution.

All are facing preliminary common nuisance charges, and all but Sanchez are also facing possession charges.

Mishawaka Police, St. Joseph County Metro SWAT, Indiana State Meth Suppression and the Marshall County Drug Task Force spent months building the case.

Neighbors say they’re relieved.

“There was never anything good that went on over there,” neighbor Scott Carpenter said.

Neighbor Melissa Conlee agrees.

“There were loud cars in and out of all times of day and night,” Conlee said. 

Both say they woke up to the raid.

“It was a sight to see but at the same time it was a relief to know that there’s not going to be any more traffic coming through,” Carpenter said. 

Many neighbors say they’re thankful to law enforcement, but law enforcement is also thankful to the community. 

“All this here was possible because we received numerous tips and complaints about issues going on in and around the neighborhood concerning this kind of activity,” Lt. Williams of the Mishawaka Police said. 

In the meantime, the block is celebrating.

“Everyone is ecstatic actually,” Conlee said.