Drug Warrant Served in Winona Leads to Two Arrests

(KWNO)- The Winona Police Department served a drug warrant on Friday, March 24 around 12:00 p.m. that led to the arrest of two adults from Winona.

Damien Shade, a 46-year-old male was arrested on 1st degree possession charges and ineligible possession of a Firearm, and Jessica Willis, a 39-year-old female was arrested on 5th degree possession charges.

The Winona Police Department was notified by homeland security about suspicious packages being delivered to Winona that were first mailed from California. WPD discovered the packages were being delivered to two different addresses, one on the 1700 block of Kramer Dr., and the other on the 700 block of W 5th St. Once the packages were delivered, WPD served the warrants.

Officers who served the warrant at the Kramer Dr. address discovered that both Shade and Willis were in the residence at the time the warrant was served. The residence belonged to Willis. When officers got into the apartment the packages had already been opened.

Officers found four pounds of methamphetamine that were inside stuffed animals, inside the package, a way for the drugs to be disguised while going through the mailing process. WPD says that this is a normal occurrence from drug deals, however this hasn’t happened often, if at all, in the Winona area. Shade claimed that all of the meth in the packages were his.

Aside from the drugs inside the delivered packages, officers also found paraphernalia on Willis’ nightstand. A loaded syringe that contained a substance that tested positive for meth, as well as around a one-gram bag that also contained a substance that tested positive for meth. Willis also had about a half gram worth of meth hidden in her bra, which officers found after she was arrested and taken to jail.

When Shade told officers that the meth belonged to him, he also admitted to owning a gun at his home, where the other package was scheduled to be delivered to. Officers serving the Warrant on Shade’s house in the 700 block of W 5th St. found the second package that contained around two more pounds of methamphetamine, as well as the gun Shade admitted to having. When Shade was arrested, officers found close to $2,200 in cash on his person.

In total, officers found approximately six pounds of methamphetamines that they say is worth around $24,000. WPD says that both Shade and Willis were cooperating the whole time during the arrest.

Shade, with charges of 1st degree possession of a controlled substance and ineligible possession of a firearm, and Willis, with the one charge of 5th degree possession of a controlled substance, were booked into the Winona County jail and will be referred to the County Attorney’s Office.

The investigation, however, remains open and ongoing. Assisting the WPD in the arrest were 25 total officers’ part of the Southeastern Minnesota Drug Task Force. Winona County Sherriff’s and Homeland Security investigation unit out of Rochester led the investigation.