MPD: $38,000 in drugs seized in raid

Madison police said they arrested two men and confiscated $38,000 in drugs and a loaded handgun after carrying out a search warrant on Wednesday.

A home in the 200 block of Swanton Road was searched Wednesday. Police said they found a scale, drug packaging materials, cash, three cellphones, 2.1 grams of marijuana, 218.9 grams of cocaine, 62.2 grams of heroin, 27.6 grams of cocaine base and 5.5 grams of fentanyl.

Brandon E. Taylor, 39, of Madison, was arrested on suspicion of delivery of heroin, possession with intent to deliver cocaine base, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon. Eric T. Williams, 33, of Madison, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug dwelling and three counts of delivery of heroin.

Sgt. R.J. Lurquin, a member of the Dane County Task Force, said the two in custody were apprehended outside of the apartment after a K-9 helped authorities find a suitcase filled with the illegal substances. Lurquin said compared to other drug busts, this one was significant.

“To get that much quantity on that particular search warrant was, to be honest with you, huge for our unit,” Lurquin said.

Police said the investigation that led to the search started last fall.

Nayda Gonzalez lives right next door to where the search warrant was executed. While she has lived in the home for years with her 9- and 3-year-old girls, she doesn’t feel as safe with that kind of police activity going on so close to her children.

“These people are not only selling but they might be consuming these things, and you’re like right next to them, so even if you close your door and lock your windows, you never know what they can do,” Gonzalez said. “And you really don’t feel safe at all. Like right now, I’m just really concerned now.”